Dharmendra Pradhan meets Singaporean ministers; discusses opportunity in education, skill development

NEW DELHI: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is on a three-day visit to Singapore to strengthen existing ties and explore the possibility of widening the scope of bilateral engagement in education and skill development. During the meeting today, the minister stressed learning from the best practices of Singapore, collaborating and customising it to meet Indian needs.

Pradhan held a productive meeting with the deputy prime minister and minister for finance of Singapore, Lawrence Wong, to enhance the collaboration between India and Singapore, particularly in the area of skill development. The discussions centred around fostering lifelong learning, cultivating a workforce prepared for the future, and prioritizing knowledge and skill development as a crucial aspect of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

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During the meeting, Pradhan said that the Indian government launched the National Education Policy (NEP) in 2020. He further informed that the government is also working towards integrating the skills qualifications framework with the higher education qualification framework and investing in developing short-term and long-term training programmes to provide skilling, re-skilling and upskilling opportunities.

"Shri Dharmendra Pradhan had an insightful discussion with Singapore's Minister of Trade and Industry H.E Mr. Gan Kim Yong. The Ministers had fruitful conversations on strengthening our skill development and vocational training linkages through all mechanisms for creating a seamless architecture for skilling and lifelong learning. Building on the outcomes of the G20 Future of Work workshop in Bhubaneswar, they also discussed ways in which India can leverage the expertise and knowledge of Singapore for addressing common challenges and transforming the Indian skills ecosystem", reads the official release.

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The education minister had the chance to gain a broader understanding of the successful approaches and methods employed in Singapore for workforce training. Both ministers agreed to prioritize skill development, establish fresh prospects for lifelong learning, and foster collaboration for the benefit of their countries as well as other emerging economies.