New Delhi: Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday called for stronger cooperation among BRICS countries to address common challenges in education and build systems that are more resilient, innovative and sustainable.

Addressing the 13th BRICS Education Ministers' Meeting held under India's BRICS Chairship, Joshi said that challenges related to resilience, innovation and sustainability cannot be addressed by individual countries in isolation. He said India's BRICS Chairship is guided by four key principles — resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability — each of which has significant relevance for the education sector.

Speaking about resilience, the Union Education Minister said education systems need to be prepared to withstand disruptions caused by pandemics, economic uncertainties, climate-related challenges and rapid technological developments. He highlighted the need for education institutions to remain adaptable and capable of responding to changing circumstances.

On innovation, Joshi stressed that education systems cannot remain static as the world is changing rapidly. According to him, education must continuously evolve to meet the aspirations of new generations and prepare young people for emerging opportunities and careers that may not even exist today.

The minister also underlined the importance of international cooperation in addressing shared challenges. He said that countries can achieve more by working together and that knowledge, technology and institutions developed today should benefit both the present and future generations.

The meeting is being attended by education ministers, senior officials and delegates from Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Indonesia, Iran, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates.

Officials said the ministers are expected to deliberate on several key areas, including Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), skill development, research and innovation, mutual recognition of academic qualifications, and academic leadership.

Ahead of the ministerial meeting, the Ministry of Education hosted the 3rd BRICS Senior Officials' Meeting under India's BRICS Chairship 2026 on August 5. The meeting brought together senior officials to discuss key areas of cooperation in education ahead of the ministerial-level deliberations.