A school in Uganda has been named one of the world’s best schools, legitimizing it for a share in a $250,000 grand prize.
The Wakadogo School in northern Uganda won the recognition on Wednesday, October 19, alongside schools in Scotland, Chile, Philippines and the United States.
The inaugural ‘World’s Best School Prizes’ organised by the education firm T4 Education recognised achievements such as preserving coastal areas and enlarging classrooms in a war-torn region.
The Wakadogo School was founded in 2005. Under its project “Shelter Wakadogo,” it assisted children impacted by the 21-year civil conflict in the area. The project grew from two classrooms to schooling 450 students. It won the World’s Best School Prizes in the Overcoming Adversity category
“Congratulations to Project Shelter Wakadogo for winning the World’s Best School Prize for Overcoming Adversity. It’s time for world leaders to sit up and listen to institutions like this outstanding Ugandan school,” said Vikas Pota, Founder of T4 Education and the World’s Best School Prizes
“Far too many children will continue to be left behind in the wake of COVID unless governments take urgent action to tackle the education crisis. As a first step, they must turn to the knowledge and experience contained within our schools because those on the frontlines of education know better than anyone else the change we need to see,” added Vikas.
READ ALSO: Ghanaian artist, Ibrahim Mahama transform planes into community learning space
Other awardees
In the category of Community Collaboration, Dunoon Grammar School in Scotland received the award for offering skill-based courses like those in travel and tourism, design, and maritime studies that were meant to subsidise loss of human capital.
In the category of Innovation, Chile’s Escuela Emilia Lascar from Penaflor won an award with its “Emilia TV” show, which treated topics that included gender identity and mental health.
The Philippines’ Bonuan Buquig National High School, which helped restore damaged mangroves and create new fish habitats, won the award for the category of Environmental Protection.
Illinois’ Curie Metropolitan High School, which offers an arts programme and integrated health services to its pupils, many of whom are minorities, won the award for the category of Supporting Healthy Lives.
T4 Education was created during the pandemic to connect teachers from all around the world through a digital network that offers tools and educational initiatives.
The awards in collaboration with Templeton World Charity Foundation, Accenture and American Expres, presents five schools with the World’s Best School awards in an effort to help them improve their facilities and surrounding neighbourhood.
“We founded the World’s Best School Prizes to surface the expertise of trailblazing schools from every corner of the globe so that leaders can learn from their incredible stories,” said Vikas.
Source: News Agencies
Abeeb Lekan Sodiq is a Managing Editor & Writer at theafricandream.net. He is as well a Graphics Designer and also known as Arakunrin Lekan.
