The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) called for better acquisition and transfer of knowledge in a globalized world.
Educational representatives of APEC's 21 members gathered in Peru's capital Lima on Oct. 5-6 for the 6th APEC Education Ministerial Meeting.
The meeting focused on how to jointly modernize education systems, create training opportunities to boost productivity and social mobility, direct policies toward improving knowledge and skills and increase employability.
Educational policies have to adapt to change and focus on properly preparing new generations, Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said at the closing ceremony of the meeting.
Peru needs to increase its spending on education, which currently stands at 3.2 percent of GDP, said Kuczynski.
"The only thing we know is that change will come rapidly and, if we have an antiquated education system, we will not be able to adapt," he said.
Peruvian Minister of Education Jaime Saavedra said that real advances have been made in some parts of Latin America, but that the quality of education remains unequal.
Alan Bollard, APEC's executive director, praised group members for their positive ideas to improve education.
But he warned that the group had to act jointly to improve technical and university education to ensure their students had the skills needed for the next 20 years.
The topics raised during this meeting will be further discussed at the upcoming APEC Peru 2016 summit in Lima on November 19-20.
