World’s Best School Prizes 2026: Four Indian schools earn spot among top global finalists

CHANDIGARH: A government school in Haryana's Faridabad, one of the four Indian schools named among the top 10 finalists across different categories for the annual World's Best School Prizes organised in the UK, is leading the change to help transform the lives of scores of girl students by focusing and implementing physical and mental health wellbeing, nutritional support and community engagement.

The Government Girls Senior Secondary School NIT-5 in Faridabad was selected for transforming the lives of at-risk girls by interlinking nutritional programmes, physical well-being and mental health support with education to break down societal barriers and ensure no girl is left behind. It is on the list of 10 finalists for the prize under the Supporting Healthy Lives category.

The five World's Best School Prizes -- for Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity and Supporting Healthy Lives -- were founded by UK-headquartered T4 Education in the wake of COVID-19 to give a platform to schools that are changing lives in their classrooms and beyond.

"In a world being turned upside down by AI, as technology reshapes the way we learn and renders jobs that have existed for centuries obsolete, amid growing challenges of climate change, conflict, poverty and populism, the world our young people are entering has never felt more precarious. And a good education, with humans at its heart, has never been more important," said Vikas Pota, Founder of T4 Education and the World's Best School Prizes.

Besides the Government Girls Senior Secondary School NIT-5 in Faridabad, schools from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh were also unveiled as contenders for membership to the Best School to Work programme to help schools attract and retain the best teachers, and celebrate the schools' enormous contribution to society's progress.

The winners across categories will be announced in October.

T4 Education calls itself a global platform bringing together a community of over 2,00,000 teachers from more than 100 countries to transform education.

Dr Avinasha Sharma, who was an English teacher at the Faridabad school before being posted in another government school in the neighbourhood, recalled several initiatives which have been taken by the school from time to time helping it find its place being shortlisted among the top 10 finalists.

A nutrition awareness programme at the school teaches students how to eat healthily while the students tend to a school vegetable garden.

"During the period I was in the school and later also whatever initiatives were taking place, we worked towards healthy lives of children including focusing on their mental and physical well-being. Specifically, the area also revolved around the girl child, their health, counselling about menstruation cycles, and whether they are anaemic or not. We have been working on various sessions related to mental wellbeing, specifically focused on aiming for a purposeful life," Sharma said.

NGOs also contribute to enhancing infrastructure and services. "We have various NGOs who have been conducting sessions in school premises and supporting school infrastructure also, in terms of sports activities. One of the NGOs has supported creating a football ground for students," she said.

For Class 12 students, the teachers engage with students and parents to highlight the importance of higher education and career choice to support girls in building careers. The school facilitates parent workshops on health, nutrition, and education, and teachers and community volunteers personally visit homes, inviting parents to attend, she said.

The school is empowering scores of students to confidently embrace the opportunities they deserve.

Sharma said what makes this school different from others is here the leadership preserved whatever has been gifted from the community.

"We tried to maintain whatever has been given. So, that's why this school has always been first choice among the CSR initiatives across Faridabad. That is the key to the success of the entire initiatives being taken up by the school," she said.

K C Kaliya, the school principal, who was transferred from another school in Gurugram and posted in the Faridabad school on May 9, said the institute runs classes from Class 1 to 12 and is affiliated to the Board of School Education, Haryana.

The number of students at the Government Girls Senior Secondary School NIT-5, Faridabad, is about 1,500, he said.

"We have 57 teachers besides 13 junior teachers for Classes 1 to 5. The school has over 40 well-equipped classrooms. Each year we have a very good result which varies between 99 to 100 per cent pass percentage," Kaliya said.

Expressing his happiness at the school being among the top 10 finalists, the principal said, "Over the years, the school has grown from strength to strength."

He said the school regularly holds camps and seminars. "Along with studies, the physical and mental health of students is given priority," he said.

"The students take part in extracurricular activities, excelling in yoga, sports and cultural competitions," he said.

The principal said many pursue higher education, competitive exams, and leadership roles within their communities.

The winners will be chosen by an expert Judging Academy, with all 50 finalist schools across five categories also taking part in a public vote opened this week to determine the winner of the Community Choice Award.

The worldwide winners across these categories will be announced in October, with all the finalists and winners invited to the World Schools Summit in Abu Dhabi on November 15-16.Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!