RIYADH:  The first meeting of the G20 Education Working Group was held this week in Riyadh, under the presidency of Saudi Arabia, to discuss the group’s basic priorities for 2020.
The meeting focused on providing fair and high-quality educational opportunities from an early age, and on internationalizing children’s education.
The head of the group, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Omari, launched the meeting and welcomed the participants. Japan, Italy and Saudi Arabia chaired discussion sessions.
Based on the spirit of cooperation and communication, which is the main focus of the Saudi presidency of the G20, the Education Working Group invited representatives of UNICEF, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), UNESCO and the World Bank, among others.
During the discussions, UNICEF showcased the latest scientific research on recent education trends.
The OECD provided updates on the current global situation regarding fair access to high-quality early childhood education. 
The OECD also reviewed recent scientific studies on the use and impact of communication and information technology in the early childhood education process. UNESCO discussed the internationalization of education.
The members of the Education Working Group are scheduled to meet again in April 2020, prior to the education ministers’ meeting in Riyadh.