Education must drive equality, Ramaphosa tells world leaders

President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged world leaders to accelerate education reform, warning that the time for “incremental adjustments” has passed if countries are to prepare young people for the future.

Addressing the Transforming Education Summit (TES+4) at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on Friday, Ramaphosa described education as the most powerful tool to tackle inequality and economic exclusion.

He highlighted South Africa’s investment in education, noting that nearly a quarter of the national budget is allocated to the sector, while millions of learners benefit from school nutrition programmes.

Ramaphosa also pointed to the country’s record matric pass rate, saying many of the learners who qualify for university come from historically disadvantaged communities that were systematically marginalised under apartheid.

“These are young people who will go on to pursue their dreams at a university or technical and vocational college of their choice, where they can study for free,” he said.

Despite the progress, Ramaphosa warned that fiscal pressures, conflict, climate change and employment changes continue to threaten education systems worldwide.

He stressed that meaningful reform would not be possible without better support for teachers.

“We cannot transform education without transforming the conditions under which our teachers work and the respect with which we treat them,” Ramaphosa said.

He also called on governments to place equity and inclusion at the centre of education policy, saying every child deserves equal access to quality education, regardless of gender, disability, background or location.

Ramaphosa concluded by encouraging young people to use education as a tool to transform their lives and help shape the future of their countries.

“Your education is not simply about gaining qualifications. It is about equipping yourselves to solve the problems of your generation. Your education must prepare you not just to inherit the world we leave you, but to transform it,” he said. 

His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa reflects on South Africa’s education journey during a media engagement at @UNESCO Headquarters in Paris as part of his Official Visit to the French Republic.

His Excellency says South Africa’s investment in education is helping to undo… pic.twitter.com/FUTMGJn7Xa

— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) July 10, 2026