BRICS and reshaping education in Global South: From digitalization to AI

In the wake of unprecedented technological acceleration, education has become a field of competition and cooperation among emerging powers. Analytical pieces in international media reveal that, while culturally and historically different, the BRICS countries are focusing on shared educational challenges through modern technologies and aiming to take a greater lead in the global education agenda.

This Pars Today news package examines digitalization, online education, and artificial intelligence in the education systems of BRICS countries, which you can read below:

BRICS: Key players in global education

Referring to the report of the BRICS Expert Council in Russia, in the 2023, 2024 school year, nearly 35.9% of children who are of school age worldwide were residing in BRICS nations, and more than a third of the world's schools were in these countries. India is at the top of the list with a student population of more than 365 million, then comes China, Brazil, Russia, and South Africa. These figures indicate the significant role of these countries in the education sector of the world in the future.

Experts continually point out that the BRICS nations face very similar challenges.

These challenges involve the whole gamut starting from providing access to compulsory and inclusive education at equal terms, to teacher shortages, educational staffs' migration, and linguistic diversity.

On the one hand, rapid population growth in some countries requires expanding educational infrastructure. On the other hand, rural depopulation due to migration has brought about school closures in some areas.

Technology, a door to further progress or just another hurdle?

Introducing digital education, neural networks, and artificial intelligence to the BRICS education systems is essentially viewed as a means to work towards cutting down inequalities and widening access.

Nevertheless, issues such as the quality of web- based education, the teacher's role, and whether or not these learning platforms can produce good professionals still remain.

Experts are of the opinion that education's future does not necessarily entail the ending of traditional models. Rather, it is the bridging of face, to, face and computer, based educational ways.

Diverse strategies in BRICS countries

BRICS countries have developed education strategies tailored to their national circumstances. China focuses on the equitable distribution of high-quality education across the country, India and South Africa aim to reduce school dropouts, and Russia and China seek to ease educational pressure on students. In Brazil, inclusive education has become a primary policy priority.

Educational cooperation and joint projects

BRICS educational cooperation at the university and research levels has expanded in recent years. Initiatives include faculty and student exchanges, networked educational programs, and joint online courses. Estimates indicate that by 2030, the number of students participating in BRICS joint programs could reach 100,000.

Future outlook for education in BRICS

Analysts believe that the digitalization of education and the development of shared scientific resources could become one of the most important public services in BRICS countries. Although challenges such as the digital divide and limited financial resources persist, BRICS experience shows that education can become a driving force for human and economic development in the Global South.