Four Indian schools have been named among the top 10 finalists for the World’s Best School Prizes 2025, organized by T4 Education, a UK-based global education platform. These prestigious awards, established in 2022 in response to educational challenges highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, recognize schools for their transformative contributions to education and society across five categories: Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity, and Supporting Healthy Lives. The shortlisted Indian schools, located in Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh, were selected from over 2,000 nominations across 114 countries. Below are the details of each finalist school, their category, and their notable initiatives:
- Government Girls Senior Secondary School, NIT 5, Faridabad, Haryana
- Category: Supporting Healthy Lives
- Details: This state-run secondary school has been recognized for its holistic approach to transforming the lives of at-risk girls. The school integrates nutritional programs, physical well-being, and mental health support into its academic framework, aiming to break down societal barriers and ensure inclusivity. Initiatives include regular health camps, seminars, and parent workshops on health, nutrition, and education. The school also emphasizes extracurricular activities like yoga, sports, and cultural competitions, fostering leadership and enabling students to pursue higher education and competitive exams. Its principal, K C Kaliya, and former teacher Dr. Avinasha Sharma highlighted its commitment to preserving community contributions, making it a preferred choice for CSR initiatives in Faridabad. The school’s efforts have earned praise from Haryana’s Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda for showcasing government schools’ global potential.
- ZP School Jalindar Nagar, Khed, Maharashtra
- Category: Community Collaboration
- Details: This rural public primary school near Pune has been lauded for its innovative “Subject Friend” peer-learning model, where older students mentor younger ones, fostering mutual support and self-driven learning. This system has revolutionized public-school education by creating dynamic, inclusive classrooms. The school’s approach enhances engagement and improves learning outcomes, making education more interactive and fun. Its recognition as a finalist underscores its role in setting a global example for community-driven education.
- Ekya School, J P Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Category: Innovation
- Details: This independent kindergarten, primary, and secondary school is celebrated for its Design Thinking-based curriculum, which empowers students to become creative thinkers and proactive problem-solvers. By integrating human-centered design processes and skills development, the school prepares students to tackle real-world challenges with empathy and critical thinking. Ekya’s innovative approach equips learners for a rapidly changing world, earning it a spot among the top 10 finalists for its forward-thinking educational model.
- Delhi Public School (DPS), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- Category: Environmental Action
- Details: This independent kindergarten, primary, and secondary school has been shortlisted for its learner-centric model that embeds environmental stewardship and social responsibility into daily learning. DPS Varanasi empowers students to explore, grow, and lead with compassion, integrating nature care and social work into its curriculum. Its initiatives focus on fostering environmental awareness and encouraging students to take purposeful action, making it a global contender for sustainable education practices.
Additional Context:
- Selection Process: The finalists were chosen by a Judging Academy of distinguished global education leaders based on rigorous criteria. All 50 finalist schools across the five categories are also competing for the Community Choice Award, determined by a public vote that opened in June 2025.
- Prize and Recognition: The winners, to be announced in October 2025, will share a $50,000 prize fund, with each category winner receiving $10,000. Finalists and winners will attend the World Schools Summit in Abu Dhabi on November 15–16, 2025, to share their best practices with global education leaders and policymakers.
- T4 Education’s Role: Founded by Vikas Pota, T4 Education connects over 200,000 teachers across 100+ countries to transform education. Pota emphasized the schools’ role in addressing global challenges like climate change, AI disruption, and poverty, stating, “In schools like these, we see the ideas and leadership that give us real hope for the future.”
- Past Indian Success: In 2024, three Indian schools—Ryan International School (Delhi), CM RISE School Vinoba (Madhya Pradesh), and Kalvi International Public School (Tamil Nadu)—won awards for Environmental Action, Innovation, and Community Choice, respectively, marking India as the first country to secure three prizes in a single year.
Significance: The recognition of these four Indian schools highlights India’s growing influence in global education, showcasing innovative and inclusive models that address local and global challenges. Their selection as finalists for the 2025 World’s Best School Prizes underscores the potential of Indian institutions to lead in educational excellence, inspiring schools worldwide. For further details, visit T4 Education’s official site (https://www.worldsbestschool.org) or follow updates on the World Schools Summit.