A school in Dubai has been named a top 3 finalist for the World’s Best School Prizes 2024, particularly for the environmental action category.
Educational institutions from across the globe are vying for the award that offers a total prize pool of $50,000 (Dh183,500), which will be divided among the winners for five categories. The five winners will be announced in October, with each receiving US$10,000 (Dh36,700).
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Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills (DIAEH) is one of the top three contenders for the World’s Best School Prize for Environmental Action.
Besides honouring environment champions, the prizes — established in 2022 after Covid-19 — recognise schools excelling in community collaboration, innovation, overcoming adversity, and supporting healthy lives, aiming to share best practices to improve education globally.
Collecting e-waste
A standout initiative of DIA EH has been a student-led e-waste recycling campaign, which gained widespread support from the school community.
With the participation of more than 5,000 students, parents, and staff members, 1,000kg of e-waste was collected during World Environment Day and 1,914kg during Campus Sustainability Month.
“If we win the prize money, we plan to reinvest it into our ongoing initiative, which will enable us to enhance our systems and scale up our efforts,” Hitesh Bhagat, principal of DIA EH, told Khaleej Times.
“Our goal is to expand the initiative beyond the school and into the wider community. One of our key projects involves recycling electronic devices, and we aim to extend this initiative to areas like Emirates Hills and even local malls. These are the next steps, and the funds would allow us to implement these efforts on a larger scale.”
Getting parents involved
Sustainability initiatives on the campus are primarily led by students with assistance from teachers, Bhagat said, but these campaigns also garner full support from children’s parents.
“Students bring these ideas and initiatives to us, and the adults in the school and sometimes even parents help them develop further. Individual efforts have grown into school-wide programmes.”
Through engaging case studies and collaborative discussions, students delve into the complexities of the current global priority and explore innovative solutions to address climate challenges.
“For instance, we have an initiative called ‘Water for Life,’ which started 15 years ago as an annual project and has now evolved into a club that others can join. Many student-driven projects like this continue to grow. Additionally, the Eco Club hosted the inaugural model COP28 event in November 2023 to highlight the importance and raise awareness about various environmental issues through debates on the Paris Agreement, Kyoto Protocol, and the Green Climate Fund, with active participation from 130 students,” he added.
Top organisations pitch in
Bhagat also mentioned the significant support from Emaar, which has helped many of their initiatives.
“This support not only encourages our students but also helps them connect with organizations outside the school. Parents contribute by bringing their own connections to the table,” he added.
He emphasised that the initiative for plastic recycling for example was introduced by a parent, which enabled the school to collaborate with various organisations.
“The involvement of parents and the encouragement passed through their children contribute to the growth of these sustainability efforts, extending beyond school hours.”
‘Moment of pride’
“I am filled with immense pride to see our students’ work recognized on an international level. Being shortlisted in the top 3 is no small feat and is a testament to their hard work and dedication,” Bhagat said.
The principal said that by providing platforms for students’ voices to be heard, the institution has developed expertise in fostering environmental awareness, advocacy, and action.
“I am filled with immense pride to see the students’ work recognised on an international level. Being shortlisted is no small feat and is a testament to their (students’) hard work and dedication. It also brings me great joy to see our school aligned with the UAE’s vision for sustainability and environment. I am confident that this recognition will inspire our students to strive for even greater heights in the future,” the principal added.
The award
The five World’s Best School Prizes — founded by T4 Education in collaboration with Accenture, American Express, and the Lemann Foundation — are some of the world’s most prestigious education prizes.
“Unless the world takes urgent action, it is set to miss UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 of universal quality education by 2030. That’s why we must look to the grassroots, to our schools at the coalface, for answers. To exceptional UAE institutions like Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills, whose work should make governments around the world sit up and take notice,” said Vikas Pota, founder of T4 Education and the World’s Best School Prizes.
The winner of the Community Choice Award, to be determined by a public vote, will receive membership to Best School to Work — a unique programme to help them support teacher well-being and solve the teacher recruitment and retention crisis.