President Cyril Ramaphosa is embarking on a three-day official working visit to France to advance global education reform, strengthen bilateral ties, and honour fallen South African soldiers.

The visit features high-level diplomatic engagements with French President Emmanuel Macron and a key leadership role at a gathering at United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) headquarters.

Ramaphosa will co-chair the leaders' meeting of the Unesco High-Level Steering Committee (HLSC) on Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on Quality Education, at the invitation of Unesco director-general Khaled El-Enany.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya noted that South Africa's appointment highlights the nation's rising authority in global education governance and international confidence in its ability to push for equitable, inclusive, quality education.

The HLSC meeting is expected to endorse the global education agenda priorities for 2026/27, focusing on strengthening the teaching profession, advancing foundational and lifelong learning, promoting inclusive digital transformation and ensuring sustainable financing for education.

Following the HLSC session, Ramaphosa will participate in the Transforming Education Summit +4 (TES+4) Stocktake. Convened by the UN and Unesco, the summit evaluates global progress made since the initial 2022 Transforming Education Summit. The objective is to establish priority actions required to accelerate the achievement of the 2030 targets for SDG 4.

Ramaphosa will travel to the village of Longueval in northern France to attend the 110th commemoration of the Battle of Delville Wood. Held at the South African National Memorial, the event honours the bravery and sacrifice of South African soldiers who fought during the First World War.

Ramaphosa is accompanied by a delegation of senior Cabinet Ministers, including First Lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe; Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola; Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean MacPherson; Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton MacKenzie and Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela.