Deputy Minister Nomusa Dube-Ncube attends London Education World Forum 2026, 17 to 20 May

Deputy Minister Nomusa Dube-Ncube Represents South Africa at the World's Largest Gathering of Education- London Education World Forum 2026 in London, United Kingdom

The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) confirms that the Deputy Minister will undertake an official working visit to London from 17 to 20 May 2026, to represent South Africa at the Education World Forum - the premier global platform for ministerial dialogue on education and skills policy, convening heads of education from over 130 countries. The gathering is anchored by the theme: Educating for a Shared Future: Peace, Planet, Purpose and Pathways

South Africa's participation is anchored in the country's most urgent developmental imperatives:

Confronting the youth unemployment crisis by building education pathways that produce work-ready, entrepreneurially capable graduates aligned to the demands of a changing economy;

Accelerating South Africa's adaptation to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) embedding artificial intelligence, digital skills, and green economy competencies across universities, TVET colleges, and community learning institutions;

Reducing structural inequality and expanding access through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), the Comprehensive Student Funding Model, and the repositioning of TVET colleges as institutions of first choice; Championing entrepreneurship as a pathway to economic inclusion, underpinned by the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme and the Just Energy Transition (JET) skills agenda.

The Deputy Minister will engage in high-level plenary debates, bilateral ministerial meetings, and advocacy on behalf of the Global South - advancing decolonised curricula, multilingual AI development, and equitable education financing as non-negotiable pillars of the world's shared educational future.

Looking forward to her participation at the forum, Deputy Minister enthused: "South Africa goes to EWF not as an observer, but as a nation actively rebuilding an education system from the ruins of apartheid - adapting with urgency to a fast-changing world while refusing to leave any young person behind."

This is an official working visit. The visit is not open to media coverage. A post-visit statement will be issued upon the Deputy Minister's return.

Media queries may be directed to:
Matshepo Dibetso
064 7480 607
[email protected]

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