Odisha to host BRICS education track meetings from Aug 5
Bhubaneswar, July 31
Odisha is set to host the BRICS India Chairship Education Track Meetings in Bhubaneswar from August 5 to 7, with more than 200 delegates, including Education Ministers and senior officials from BRICS member countries, scheduled to participate.
Ahead of the event, Chief Secretary Anu Garg chaired a high‑level preparatory meeting at Lok Seva Bhavan on Friday to review arrangements and ensure its smooth conduct.
The meetings will be held at Hotel Mayfair Lagoon and are expected to bring together eight Education Ministers, around 40 senior officials, representatives of the Government of India and other delegates from BRICS nations. According to the schedule, the 3rd BRICS Education Senior Officials' Meeting will be held on August 5.
Discussions involving Education Ministers and senior officials are scheduled for August 6, while the 13th BRICS Education Ministers' Meeting will take place on August 7. Delegates will also visit the World Skill Centre in Bhubaneswar as part of the official programme.
The BRICS India Chairship is centred on promoting resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainable development through a people‑centric and welfare‑oriented approach.
According to an official statement, the key agenda items include strengthening early childhood care and education, expanding skill development and mutual cooperation under the BRICS Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Cooperation Alliance (TCA), encouraging collaborative research, innovation and start‑ups, promoting mutual recognition of qualifications (MRQs) and enhancing capacity building for academic leadership.
During the review meeting, K.M. Praphullachandra Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education, joined virtually and briefed officials on the programme and coordination mechanisms.
Senior officials also reviewed arrangements for the arrival and reception of delegates, protocol, security, transportation, accommodation, liaison officers and coordination with embassies.
Preparations for cultural programmes, local sightseeing, medical facilities, ambulance services and inter‑departmental coordination were also discussed.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg directed all departments to work in close coordination and assured full support from the Odisha Government to ensure the successful hosting of the international event.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good initiative by the government, but I hope these meetings lead to concrete outcomes for our students. We need more skill development programs and better vocational training infrastructure, not just photo opportunities. Let's see what comes out of this.
As someone from Australia following BRICS, it's interesting to see India taking the chair and bringing education to the forefront. The focus on mutual recognition of qualifications and early childhood care is exactly what developing nations need. Kudos to Odisha for stepping up.
The World Skill Centre visit is a smart move! Showing off our indigenous skill development efforts to international delegates is great PR. I just hope the local students and youth actually benefit from these global collaborations in the long run. 😊
It's heartening to see BRICS focusing on education and skill development. With India's young population, this is the right direction. I just hope the state government ensures smooth logistics because international events in smaller cities can be challenging. Fingers crossed!
Great to see Odisha hosting such prestigious meetings. But I hope the government also focuses on the ground reality - many government schools in the state still lack basic infrastructure. Let's use this opportunity to actually improve our education system, not just host meetings. 🙏
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