13th BRICS Education Ministers’ meeting in Odisha to discuss key priorities

Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi will participate in the 13^th BRICS Education Ministers’ meeting to be held on Friday (August 7, 2026) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The meeting will deliberate on key priorities including early childhood care and education (ECCE), skill development, research and innovation, mutual recognition of qualifications and academic leadership.

The Ministry of Education also hosted the 3^rd BRICS Senior Officials Meeting under India’s BRICS chairship, on August 5 in Bhubaneswar. The meeting brought together senior officials and delegates from BRICS member countries, including Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Indonesia, Iran, Ethiopia and United Arab Emirates, to advance cooperation under the BRICS Education Track, an official statement from the Ministry said.

Ministers’ declaration

The meeting provided a platform for detailed deliberations on the BRICS Education Ministers’ Declaration. The officials from the bloc’s member countries reviewed the proposed text of the declaration, exchanged views and suggestions, and worked towards building consensus on the key elements to be presented before the Education Ministers for consideration and adoption during the Education Ministers’ meeting.

“The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation across key priority areas identified under the BRICS Education Track, including ECCE, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), collaborative research and innovation, mutual recognition of qualifications, academic leadership, and the BRICS’ Guiding Principles on Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge Systems,” the statement said.

The delegations shared their perspectives and recommendations to further enrich the declaration and ensure that it reflected the collective aspirations and priorities of BRICS member countries.

The deliberations also highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional mechanisms, promoting academic and research collaborations, facilitating exchange of best practices, and enhancing capacity-building initiatives among BRICS countries. The discussions reaffirmed the shared commitment of member countries towards advancing inclusive, resilient and future-ready education systems through greater cooperation, innovation and knowledge exchange.

The meeting concluded with the finalisation of the proposed outcomes of the BRICS Education Ministers Declaration. “The successful conclusion of the senior education officials meeting marks an important milestone in advancing the priorities of India’s BRICS Chairship 2026, further strengthening cooperation in education among BRICS member countries,” the statement mentioned.