INDIAN FINALISTS FOR 2023 WISE AWARDS ANNOUNCED: ROCKET LEARNING’S CATALYZING ECE AT SCALE AND TRANSFORM SCHOOLS’ TRANSFORM LEARNING
The WISE Awards has announced two Indian finalists for the 2023 edition of the awards. These innovative education projects, Catalyzing ECE at Scale by Rocket Learning and Transform Learning by Transform Schools, People for Action, are paving the way for a brighter future in education in India.
India is at a critical juncture in the field of education, and these innovative projects demonstrate a forward-thinking approach that will help transform the country’s education system. With over 1.3 billion people and 300 million students, education in India is the cornerstone of the country’s future.
Rocket Learning’s Catalyzing ECE at Scale is working to provide high-quality early childhood education to millions of children in India who lack access to quality education opportunities, “We are proud to be recognized as a finalist for the WISE Awards. With 85% of brain development achieved by the age of 6, pre-school is a critical phase for a child’s socio-cognitive development. With our simple, experiential, age-appropriate and play-based ways of stimulation, delivered over low-cost technology that reaches the children where they are, we are committed to enabling an equal foundation early for all children” said Rocket Learning Co-Founder, Utsav Kheria. The organization’s goal is to create a more inclusive and equitable education system in India.
Transform Schools, People For Action is dedicated to transforming the educational landscape for secondary-school students in India. Through the implementation of teacher training, the creation of teaching and learning workbooks, and quality assurance measures, the organization is empowering the school system to enhance learning outcomes. The project has demonstrated remarkable results, with an additional 1.5 years of learning gains achieved in just one year of instruction per subject, at a cost of only USD 11.64 per student. Community involvement is emphasized as a vital component of the initiative, with students, parents, teachers, and school leaders all working together to design and implement effective learning modules. “We are honored to be selected as a finalist for the WISE Awards. Our project reflects our commitment to transforming education in India, and we look forward to continuing our work to create a more effective, inclusive and equitable system in line with India’s policy focus and SDG’s 4,5 and 10,” said Transform Schools CEO, Pankaj Vinayak Sharma. By prioritizing personalized, targeted learning and promoting active engagement, Transform Learning aims to create a more inclusive and equitable education system in India.
“The work acknowledged by the WISE Awards is important in spotlighting new possibilities offered by innovation in education, with each of the 12 2023 finalists demonstrating new and proven solutions to key education challenges within their communities and beyond,” said Stavros N. Yiannouka, CEO of WISE – an initiative of Qatar Foundation (QF).
“Whether enabling access to quality early childhood education, empowering refugee communities through access to digital literacy, or promoting nature-based community learning, these finalists are actively transforming young lives and empowering communities to take action in the face of today’s most heightened challenges.”
Six winners will be announced in September, and they will be celebrated at the upcoming summit in Doha, taking place from November 28-29. In addition to publicity and networking opportunities, each winning project will receive $20,000 (US).
Since its inception in 2009, the WISE Awards have recognized and promoted 90 innovative projects, from over 150 countries, that are addressing global educational challenges.
This year’s finalists represent a diverse range of sectors and locations, showcasing a growing resource of expertise and sound educational practice.
For more information about the WISE Awards and this year’s finalists, please visit www.wise-qatar.org.