MEXICO.- Billionaire Carlos Slim, ranked by Forbes as the world's richest person, said he planned to invest more than 4 billion pesos (about $317 million USD) over the next three years to support Mexico's education system.

"We will invest more than 4 billion pesos to support connectivity, the development of digital libraries and the equipping for schools as part of our program of educational assistance in Mexico," Slim said during a press conference Monday at which he announced an alliance with Salman Khan, who runs "Academia Khan."

The alliance forged by Slim and Khan is aimed at expanding the academy's work in Mexico and across Latin America by providing access to online courses and videoconferences on different subjects to promote "world class education," Slim said.

The courses are designed for students, teachers, parents and university-trained professionals, will be free and available 24 hours a day.

The online courses are available in English and Spanish.

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