EAST LONDON- In a culminating event that bridged local insights with global ambitions, the Eastern Cape G20 Provincial Education Indaba brought together stakeholders from across the province to chart a course for building future leaders in education.
This 9th and final Indaba of its series spotlighted critical priorities shaping South Africa’s educational landscape in East London International Conventional center(EL ICC) on Wednesday, 20 August 2025.
As a call to action in the field of education the Deputy Minister of the Department of Basic Education Dr. Reginah Mhaule, highlighted the importance of the theme ‘Building Future Leaders’ in her speech at the conference she emphasized the importance of teachers and their role in transforming learners lives.
“The Eastern Cape Department of Education has demonstrated its dedication to improving quality education through its Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) initiatives, which include team planning and information exchange aimed at improving execution.”
Deputy Minister also emphasized that ECCE is essential for laying the groundwork for future learning, development and leadership. “For ECCE to be effective, it needs to be professionalized, integrated, equitable and accessible”, she added.
In addition Head of Department at Eastern Cape Department of Education Sharon Maasdorp, emphasized the importance of collaboration and partnerships in achieving educational goals during the summit.
She highlighted that the department is using the summit to reach out to stakeholders and unions that are doing excellent work in education. “If we can get the foundational learning right in the province, we won’t have to worry as much about the matric results. Once we reach learners at a young age, we can detect whether the learners are having health challenges and offer the resources and tools to help them,” Maasdorp added.
Furthermore MEC for EC DoE Fundile Gade emphasized positioning Early Childhood Development (ECD) as a cornerstone of South Africa’s G20 presidency.
“The framework focuses on driving solidarity through collaborative, evidence-based actions for nurturing future generations by prioritizing these areas, provinces will contribute to a nation where every child thrives, embodying equality and sustainability for global programs .”
The event served as a platform for stakeholders, including educators, government officials and civil society organizations to discuss and shape the future of education in the country.
By focusing on Early Childhood Development and Educational Professional Development, the Indaba highlighted the importance of strengthening foundational learning and equipping teachers for the challenges of modern classrooms.
Photographs: supplied
