BRICS education agenda: Childhood care, courses on par with market demand, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The New Delhi Declaration was adopted at the 18th BRICS Summit held from September 12-13, 2026, in New Delhi, India.
• BRICS nations called for enhanced cooperation in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN).
• The declaration welcomed the outcomes of the 13th BRICS Education Minister’s meeting held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from August 5-7, 2026.
• Emphasis was placed on the role of the BRICS Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Cooperation Alliance (BRICS-TCA) in skill development.
• India's initiative to include traditional and indigenous knowledge systems as an additional thematic group within the BRICS Network University was appreciated.

Detailed Insights:

• The 18th BRICS Summit was hosted by India under its 2026 BRICS chairship, themed "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability".
• Cooperation areas include sharing best practices, mutual recognition of qualifications, academic and professional mobility, and digital literacy.
• The declaration advocates for the safe, ethical, and human-centered use of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence in education.
• The BRICS-TCA, established in 2022, aims to build a multilateral platform for project cooperation, information exchange, and resource sharing in TVET.
• BRICS countries reaffirmed commitment to strengthening skill development systems and enhancing workforce preparedness by aligning training with market demands.
• The BRICS Network University is encouraged to consider traditional, indigenous, and local knowledge systems as an International Thematic Group.
• Collaborative efforts are promoted to improve institutional governance, enhance quality and accessibility in education, and foster exchange programs in STEM fields.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE): Holistic development of children from birth to eight years, encompassing care, health, nutrition, play, and early learning.
• Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN): A child's basic ability to read with understanding and perform simple mathematical operations by the end of Grade 3.
• Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET): Education and training that provides knowledge and skills for employment or self-employment in specific occupations.
• BRICS Network University: A collaborative initiative among BRICS higher education institutions for academic and research cooperation, joint programs, and knowledge exchange.
• BRICS Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Cooperation Alliance (BRICS-TCA): A platform for BRICS nations to cooperate on TVET development, information exchange, and resource sharing.