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Thank you Rob. Mr Aoyagi (UNESCO), Dr Sinclair (NCERT), distinguished colleagues,

I鈥檓 delighted to be with you this morning to open this important event.

When Tony Blair became Prime Minister of Britain he was asked what his priorities were. He said he had three: education, education and education. And he was right. There is nothing more important for the future of our countries and our citizens than high quality education for all. And it鈥檚 worth paying for. When the teachers in the UK were campaigning several years ago for more investment in education, they had a powerful slogan: 鈥渋f you think education is expensive, try ignorance鈥�.

So education matters. It matters to our society and our economy. And it matters hugely to all of us on a personal level. It matters to me as the father of three children. I know from my own experience travelling around this great country that Indians will make huge sacrifices to ensure their children have the best possible education. And I know that same desire is shared by parents around the world.

And science matters. Not just because it鈥檚 how we improve our lives. Not just because there can be no progress and no prosperity without it. But also because to think scientifically is to express something profound about what it means to be human. As Albert Einstein said when he was asked what he did, 鈥淟earn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning.鈥�

And mathematics matters. Not just because without mathematics there is no science. Not just because it is the only universal language. Not just because bridges and buildings, including this one, would not stand up properly without the right maths. Not just because without mathematics there would be no poetry and no music. But because mathematics too is something profoundly human, and takes us to some of the deepest truths in the universe in which we live. As the Latvian mathematician Tobias Dantzig said, 鈥淢athematics is the supreme judge; from its decisions there is no appeal鈥�.

So if we want to build a better world (and we do), we will not do it without educating a new generation in science and mathematics.

There鈥檚 good news and bad news.

The good news is that the UK and India, and many of the other countries represented here today, have an abundance of talented people in science and maths; that all of our countries have professionals (many here today) who teach, administer or study science and maths to world class levels and are committed to educating the next generation; that we have institutions which excel in those disciplines - of which the University of Delhi under Professor Singh, and Imperial College London under Sir Keith O鈥橬ions are two shining examples; and that in quantitative terms more young people are studying science and maths, and going on to careers in those areas, than ever before in history.

But the bad news is that this isn鈥檛 yet good enough to equip ourselves to face the challenges of the 21st century. Too many children and young people don鈥檛 have access at all to decent education of any sort, including in science and maths. Where those subjects are taught, they are often not taught as well as they need to be. Too many students drop out of science and mathematics as soon as they can. Too many of those who continue do so not because they love the subjects and are inspired by them, but because they are forced to - by their schools, their parents or their own conscience. Too many girls opt out of science and mathematics at school or as a career, taking away half of the world鈥檚 talent from the places we need it most. And too many businesses find it impossible to recruit the staff they need with the right skills in these disciplines.

Which is why the event we are launching here today is so important. The next two days are an opportunity to identify practical answers to some of the biggest questions that face all of us in this field:

• How do we provide education in science and maths at the quality and scale necessary to meet our future needs?
• How do we ensure that everyone has access to that education, in particular girls and other sections of society which risk exclusion?
• How do we motivate young people to feel that science and maths is a joy not a duty?
• How do we help teachers to deliver of their best and continually refresh their knowledge so they are providing the most up to date teaching?

There鈥檚 a famous story in which one of Einstein鈥檚 students was taking the final year physics exam and said 鈥淒r. Einstein, Aren鈥檛 these the same questions as last year鈥檚 physics exam?鈥� And Einstein replied: 鈥淵es; But this year the answers are different.鈥�

And finally, how do we do all of this at a time when for much of the world budgets are tight and there are competing priorities for the money that is available?

Those are some pretty big questions. But if we are going to get good answers to them, then this is the forum that will deliver them. This is a gathering of some of the world鈥檚 foremost experts in this field. And by considering these issues together, we will get much further than by addressing them alone. All of us in this room are good. But none of us is as good as all of us.

So I am delighted to be able to open this session. I know your deliberations are important; I am confident that they will be fruitful; and I look forward to hearing the results. Most important of all, I and my team look forward to working with you to take your recommendations forward.

On behalf of the UK government, I wish you every success.