Two schools in India have been recognized as finalists in the annual World’s Best School Prizes 2023, which celebrate schools for their contributions to education and society, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Riverside School in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is a finalist in the “Innovation” category for its student-centric approach to education. Snehalaya English Medium School in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, is a finalist in the “Overcoming Adversity” category for its work in transforming the lives of children living with HIV/AIDS. The winners will be selected by an expert Judging Academy and announced in November, with each category winner receiving USD 50,000.

In addition, a new “Community Choice Award” has been introduced this year, open to the top three finalists in each category. This award will be determined by public vote, and the winning school will receive membership to T4 Education’s new Best School to Work program, designed to certify schools for their culture and support teacher retention.

The Riverside School is known for its “I CAN pedagogical model” and the introduction of the Feel, Imagine, Do, Share (FIDS) program, an online training platform used by many schools worldwide. The school has reached 2 million children through the Design for Change School and has trained over 1,000 government schoolteachers in the FIDS framework.

Snehalaya English Medium School has faced challenges in recruiting students from marginalized communities, including children of sex workers and those with HIV+. However, the school has worked to break down stigmas and provide affordable, quality education. If it wins the award for Overcoming Adversity, the school plans to expand its education program and promote inclusivity.

The World’s Best School Prizes were established by T4 Education in 2022 to highlight schools that are making a positive impact on their students and communities worldwide.

Source: PTI

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