On the second day of the II International Forum of Ministers of Education "Shaping the Future," bringing together for the second consecutive year representatives of the international education community, Sergey Kravtsov, the Russian Minister of Education, briefed the attendees on the outcomes of the last year's forum.
According to the minister, this year, over 150 delegates from about 40 nations all over the globe took part in the event.
"We see great interest of friendly countries in the educational system of Russia. About 40 countries and more than 150 delegates are participating in the forum. One of the results of the first forum we held a year ago was the expansion of the network of Open Education Centers in Russia. We began to develop contacts not only in school education but also in secondary vocational education," he emphasized.
According to Kravtsov, worldwide surveys indicate that Russia ranked among the top 10 countries in the world for educational quality in 2023. He added that the nation had fully embraced preschool accessibility and had amassed a great deal of expertise in putting remedial and special education programs for kids with impairments into practice.
"We are prepared to share our expertise in the area of engineering staff education and training. Russian specialists are in high demand these days. We are willing to work with you to develop educational programs, including collaborative ones, and we are prepared to work with you to modify them to fit into the national educational framework," the minister said.
He underlined that in terms of collaboration, Russia "adheres to the principle of not imposing this or that ideology," but "respects every country."
The minister also extended an invitation to the foreign forum participants to take part in the "Russian Teacher Abroad" program, which aims to create cooperative textbooks and develop collaborative schools.
During the plenary session, foreign delegates to the event also gave reports on the accomplishments of their home systems and plans for international cooperation.
The People's Republic of China's Deputy Minister of Education, Chen Jie, discussed the application of artificial intelligence and internet technologies in the classroom. He declared that China is prepared to grant access to digital education systems and intends to increase its foreign educational relations. China is also keen to collaborate on cooperative scientific research initiatives.
Aurélien Simplice Kongbelet-Zingas, the State Minister of National Education, and Jean-Laurent Syssa-Magale, the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Technological Innovations, represented the Central African Republic at the event. They updated their colleagues on initiatives to guarantee that every citizen has access to education and on the creation of a system of professional training. The delegates added that Cuba would be interested in working with Russia to build schools.
Two department members from the Republic of Cuba were also present at the forum: Modesto Ricardo Gomez Crespo, the First Deputy Minister of Higher Education, and Sira Pinero Alonso, the First Deputy Minister of Education. The topic of incorporating vocational education into academic curricula was deliberated.
Additionally, the following officials spoke at the plenary session:
Eleonore Yayi Ladekan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Republic of Benin;
Omid Rezay Fara, Acting Deputy Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
Haddy Jatou Sey, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education of the Republic of the Gambia;
John Chrysestom Muyingo, State Minister for Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Sports of the Republic of Uganda;
Usman Sharifkhodzhaev, First Deputy Minister of Preschool and School Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
Inal Gablia, Minister of Education of the Republic of Abkhazia.
The II International Forum of Ministers of Education is organized by the Ministry of Education of Russia, the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan, and the Foundation for the Support of Humanitarian Sciences, "My History."