On this occasion, she will welcome this Initiative, which stands as an innovative and concrete partnership to advance progress on Sustainable Development Goal 4, “ to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”  

By putting the spotlight on rural headmasters, the Initiative will tackle a leading source of inequality in education – the gap between rural and urban areas in terms of participation and learning achievement.  

She will emphasize that headmasters set the tone for the success of a school and emphasize the need for adequate training, working conditions and support, drawing on new sources of innovation, and empowering women to take on leadership positions.  

The opening will take place in the presence of China’s Minister of Education, Mr Chen Baosheng, and gather over 1,000 participants.  

During the visit she will discuss avenues for cooperation on rural education and sustainable development with Jack Ma, who also serves as an SDG Advocate and is a staunch education advocate.