Delhi’s Ryan International School has been recognized for tackling water scarcity and pollution through innovative projects such as hydroponics and biogas plants.

Three Indian schools – Ryan International School in Delhi, CM RISE School Vinoba in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh and Kalvi International Public School in Madurai, Tamil Nadu – have been recognized as winners of the World’s Best School Awards 2024. Each of three Indian schools the winners stood out for their commitment to educational reform and impactful projects, according to a BBC report.

Announced by T4, a London-based organization working to empower teachers and school leaders globally, these awards honor impactful schools and celebrate leaders who drive change.

Of the three, Delhi’s Ryan International School was celebrated for initiatives that promote inclusivity and sustainability in its curriculum. The school was also awarded for combating water scarcity and pollution through innovative projects such as hydroponics and biogas plants. Faced with significant environmental challenges, which also include waste disposal and rapid population growth, the school is driven by a mission to cultivate environmentally conscious citizens capable of addressing these pressing issues. It incorporates comprehensive environmental education in all classes, combining the Indian curriculum with innovative environmental projects as well. Key initiatives include the DABAT project, which combines technology and traditional farming methods to increase the efficiency and sustainability of agriculture by significantly reducing water use through drip irrigation systems integrated with bio-floc technology. In particular, his project “Mitigating the effects of water scarcity” on the climate change challenge held at COP 28, the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, was placed among the top five out of 43 participating countries. This achievement highlights the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of its environmental initiatives. The school’s efforts have garnered accolades, including recognition from the Ministry of the Environment for its substantial contributions to environmental conservation. The school has planted over 5,000 saplings in Delhi as part of the ‘Each One Plant One’ campaign. It also plans to expand its green technologies and establish a startup incubator for student-led environmental projects. This will enhance the school’s capacity for further innovation, ensuring that students remain at the forefront of environmental action and action.

CM RISE Vinoba School in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh was honored for using local resources to improve learning outcomes and community engagement. It has been recognized for innovative practices such as integrating education with local festivals and hosting early morning sports sessions.

Kalvi International Public School in Madurai, Tamil Nadu won the Community Choice Award category for its innovative practices that promote practical skills and social responsibility among students.

The World’s Best School Awards are the world’s most prestigious education awards, giving inspirational schools a global platform so others can replicate their best practice. Through this platform, the T4 website states that the aim is to celebrate schools everywhere for the essential role they play in developing the next generation of learners and for their enormous contribution to the progress of society.

The World’s Best School awards are given for five different categories – Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity and Supporting Healthy Living, as well as a Community Choice Award. Schools from around the world, including the UK, have been nominated for the chance to be crowned winners and share the $50,000 prize. Each school shared inspiring stories about the positive work they were doing.

The award for the best school in the world for community collaboration was won by a school in Argentina. The school educates 700 students from kindergarten to secondary education with a core mission of “inclusion and innovation”. They work hard to combine education with employment opportunities.

The First Ukrainian School in Poland of the Unbreakable Ukraine Foundation were the winners of the World’s Best School for Overcoming Adversity category. The school started as a charity school in March 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It now has three schools for 1500 Ukrainian refugee children in Warsaw, Krakow and Wrocław, Poland.

The award for the best school in the world for supporting healthy living was awarded to a school in Italy. Istituto Galilei-Costa-Scarambone is a secondary school in Italy that has a special program to combat bullying and improve mental well-being. The special program is run by students and has gone further than just helping students in the school, it now helps students all over Italy.