Winners of the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development revealed

Good Neighbors Bangladesh - empowering rural teachers

Good Neighbors Bangladesh (GNB), part of Good Neighbors International, is dedicated to enhancing the quality of education by developing skilled teachers and creating child-friendly school environments. It has established primary and secondary schools in the rural communities of Bochaganj, Ghatail, Moulvibazar, and Shakhipur. Created in 1998, the project is entitled "Enhancement of teachers' capabilities for ensuring quality teaching environment in targeted schools". The project's comprehensive approach includes extensive teacher training, improving skills in classroom management and technology use, and the creation of sustainable infrastructures in schools including teachers' knowledge centers. By integrating children's rights education into the curriculum, GNB has successfully reduced instances of child marriage and labour. So far, the project has provided professional and skills development training to 450 teachers, benefiting approximately 24,414 students and 97,656 community members, and has established partnerships with 79 other schools.

Veredas Formativas - tailored teacher development in Brazil

The Veredas Formativas (Training Paths) initiativewas launched by the Municipal Department of Education of Curitiba in 2017. The project's main goal is to offer meaningful learning opportunities for education professionals through training and cultural activities in the context of the municipal education network. Since its inception, the program has empowered teachers to choose their training, as well as decide on how to develop their own career path. Veredas Formativas offers various training formats-including in-person, hybrid, and remote learning-across various educational themes tailored to demands. The initiative also promotes personal growth through cultural activities such as theatre, music, and literature events. In 2023 alone, the programme conducted 883 formative actions, effectively contributing to the professional and personal development of 16,728 teachers and improving the quality of education of 132,934 students.

Tchitchao High School - boosting literacy and numeracy in Togo

Tchitchao High School, located in the rural Kara Region of Togo, is a public secondary school where dedicated local teachers volunteer to improve educational quality for underserved communities. Launched in 2018, the project is entitled "Teachers' community evidence-based holistic approach to improve foundational literacy and numeracy skills of rural primary-grade students in Tchitchao village". It aims at enhancing foundational literacy and numeracy skills among primary-grade students in the village and the surrounding region. The initiative pioneers the integration of social and emotional learning into a structured pedagogy, offering personalized instruction tailored to each student's needs. This approach adapts learning to the student's individual level rather than their age or grade, creating a more effective educational environment. Since its launch, it has significantly improved educational outcomes. At the village level, the programme reached 2,400 students and trained 20 teachers as master trainers, who now lead future cascade trainings.

The UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development

The UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Developmentwas established in 2008 with support from the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences. The Prize, awarded biennially, reflects UNESCO's commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all. Over the years, the Prize has recognized a wide array of initiatives that improve teacher practice worldwide, from professional development programs to holistic educational reforms. By celebrating and supporting these laureates, the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize continues to play a pivotal role in fostering educational innovation and excellence across the globe.