Alibaba founder Jack Ma gives a speech. (Photo/CGTN)
Alibaba founder Jack Ma's education fund announced Monday that it would invest more than 45 million U.S. dollars in 100 young teachers who wish to venture to rural areas in China.
The move is part of Ma's continuing effort to boost education development in the rural parts of China.
"Rural education will get better only if we have the best graduates as rural teachers," Ma said.
"Normal school graduates will have the chances to create history by joining in the building of rural China."
Ma was an English teacher in eastern China's Hangzhou city before founding Alibaba. He has branded himself as a "spokesman for rural teachers" on his official Weibo handle.
A race for the poor between tycoons
Poverty alleviation is an ongoing national strategy in China.
As some of the richest people in the country, Internet tycoons are also racing to help the poor.
Liu Qiangdong, founder of e-commerce site jd.com, said it's a "shame" for China's rich not to realize there are still millions of Chinese people living under the poverty line.
He criticized Jack Ma stating that "it's not normal for Ma to feel painful while savaging billions a month" at the just-concluded World Internet Conference 2017.
Liu has recently become the head of a poor village in northern China. He promised the elimination of poverty and new growth as part of the village's goals.
