education 2 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Three Ugandan Schools Make Global Top 50 for $1 Million Innovation Prize
St. Kizito High School Namugongo, Suubi Community Schools, and Kyaninga Child Development Centre have been shortlisted among the world's top 50 innovative schools for the 2026 Global Schools Prize, earning badges and network access. The competition will select 10 category winners for $50,000 each and one overall champion for $500,000. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/three-ugandan-schools-among-global-top-50-awarded-1-million-innovation-prize--5444652
Three Ugandan educational institutions have earned spots in the global top 50 for the prestigious $1 million Global Schools Prize 2026, announced by the Varkey Foundation. Selected from nearly 3,000 nominations in 113 countries, these schools highlight Uganda’s rising role in innovative education.
St. Kizito High School Namugongo in Kampala competes in the Sustainability category. The school acts as a hands-on climate lab, where students construct hydro-dams, manage solar irrigation, and create eco-briquettes from waste. Partnerships with FAO have introduced AI-monitored hydroponics, and projects like wetland restoration and clean cooking initiatives have impacted thousands, influencing national curriculum changes.
Suubi Community Schools in Mubende focuses on Inclusive Education for 570 students in a low-resource area. It employs catch-up programs, individualized plans, and adaptive teaching for challenges like dyslexia and trauma from pandemics. Assigning leadership roles to special needs students in STEM and arts boosts confidence, supported by teacher training and community efforts to reduce stigma.
Kyaninga Child Development Centre (KCDC) in Fort Portal enters the Health and Wellbeing category. Since 2014, it provides therapy, inclusive schooling via Kyaninga Inclusive Model School, and community training. Children with disabilities participate in public events promoting visibility and inclusion, backed by a comprehensive four-pillar approach.
All top 50 schools receive a Global Schools Prize Badge and join the Global Schools Network for collaboration. Sunny Varkey praised their transformative approaches. Next, 10 category winners get $50,000 each, with the overall winner taking $500,000, to be revealed at the Education World Forum in London.
Source: Daily Monitor