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Starfish School has been named a Top 3 finalist for the World’s Best School Prizes 2024. The five World’s Best School Prizes, founded by T4 Education in collaboration with Accenture, American Express and the Lemann Foundation, are the world’s most prestigious education prizes and this year’s winners will share a $50,000 prize fund.
Starfish School, a charity-funded kindergarten through primary school in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which is redefining education for marginalised communities through its "3R Innovation Curriculum" and Makerspace Programme, has been named a Top 3 finalist for the World’s Best School Prize for Innovation. It is the first Thai school ever to become a finalist for the Prizes.
The five World’s Best School Prizes - for Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity, and Supporting Healthy Lives – were established in the wake of COVID in 2022 to give a platform to schools that are changing lives in their classrooms and far beyond their walls, sharing their best practices to help improve education everywhere.
The winners and finalists of the World’s Best School Prizes will be invited to the World Schools Summit in Dubai, UAE, on November 23-24, which will bring together global education leaders with the world’s best schools to help transform education.
Vikas Pota, Founder of T4 Education and the World’s Best School Prizes, said:
“Unless the world takes urgent action, it is set to miss UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 of universal quality education by 2030. The global education crisis is multifaceted and so must be the solutions.
“That's why we must look to the grassroots, to our schools at the coalface, for answers. To exceptional Thai institutions like Starfish School, whose work should make governments around the world sit up and take notice. By spreading its innovations far and wide, we can inspire change where it's needed most.”
Dr. Nanthaporn Janchalia Seributra, President of Starfish Education Foundation and licensee of Starfish School, said: "Our entire school community is thrilled by this prestigious recognition. We take immense pride in offering an innovative learning approach that provides meaningful education to both our students and the wider community."
About our school:
Starfish School, a charity-funded kindergarten through primary school in Chiang Mai, Thailand, is redefining education for marginalised communities through its "3R Innovation Curriculum", Makerspace Programme, Project-Based Learning method and use of education technology solutions, equipping students with crucial skills in a culturally inclusive environment. Since its founding in 2006, the school has focused on creating equitable learning opportunities for its 234 students, integrating local wisdom with advanced teaching methodologies to ensure inclusivity and empowerment.
Central to Starfish School's innovative approach is the "3R Innovation Curriculum," designed to simplify Thai language learning for non-native speakers and integrate Thaiglish to facilitate English learning. This curriculum, along with the Makerspace Programme, fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills by encouraging self-directed learning through STEAM activities.
Results for programmes like the Maker Space have already received governmental accolades, and have seen success stories like one student developing an air conditioner from local materials, demonstrating practical application of STEM learning. Such projects exemplify the school's commitment to blending modern technology with traditional knowledge, preparing students for future challenges while respecting cultural heritage.
The school’s leadership adheres to the UPRISE framework – Useful, Problem-Solving, Real World, Impactful, Self-Directed, and Experiential learning – ensuring that educational practices are meaningful and impactful. This philosophy has led to collaborations with government and non-government organisations, enhancing the educational impact and earning recognition as a Sandbox School since 2021.
If awarded the World's Best School Prize for Innovation, Starfish School plans to expand the Starfish Learning Hub, enriching community learning and fostering sustainable social entrepreneurship, further cementing its role as a leader in educational innovation.
Next steps:
The winner of each of the five World’s Best School Prizes will be announced in October. The winner of each Prize will be chosen based on rigorous criteria by a Judging Academy comprising distinguished leaders across the globe including academics, educators, NGOs, social entrepreneurs, government, civil society, and the private sector.
A prize of US$50,000 will be equally shared among the winners of the five Prizes, with each receiving an award of US$10,000. Meanwhile, the winner of the Community Choice Award, as determined by a Public Vote, will receive membership to Best School to Work – a unique programme to help them support teacher wellbeing and solve the teacher recruitment and retention crisis.
ABOUT T4 EDUCATION:
We believe every child, everywhere, deserves a good education. We are building the world's largest community of teachers and schools to achieve this. Together. Our digital media platform provides opportunities for educators to network, collaborate, share good practices, and support each other's efforts to improve learning and school culture. We work to amplify teachers’ voices because the world we want to see will only be built by listening to those at the heart of education.
For more information, please contact Salman Shaheen: salman@t4.education
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Video of the celebration on the day of the announcement of the Top 3 results:
Endorsements for Starfish School's Top 3 selection:
Starfish School Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarfishSchool/
Starfish Labz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starfishlabz/
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