Doha, April 17 (QNA) - The finalists for the 2023 edition of the WISE Awards have been announced. These projects, hailing from various countries around the world, have been selected for their innovative and impactful approaches to global educational challenges.

Each year, the initiative celebrates global innovative solutions to pressing educational challenges, with the WISE Awards pre-jury selecting the finalists based on their innovative character, positive contribution to learning, and potential for scalability and adaptability.

The 2023 WISE Awards finalists are Fontan Relational Education (FRE) by Colegio Fontan Capital (Colombia); Shamba Letu by So They Can (Tanzania); Tekwill in Every School by ATIC (Republic of Moldova); International Common Assessment for Numeracy (ICAN) by PAL Network (Kenya); Transform Schools by People for Action (India); Thaki Digital Literacy Rights by Thaki (Lebanon); NaTakallam: Connecting Refugees & Language Learners Worldwide by NaTakallam (USA); Transforming Education Systems by EIDU (Germany); Ahlan Simsim by IRC in partnership with Sesame Workshop (USA); Biodivercities Nature-Based Education Network by OpEPA (Colombia); Catalyzing ECE at Scale by Rocket Learning (India); and ELIFE by Fondation Tunisie pour le Developpement (Tunisia).

"The work acknowledged by the WISE Awards is important in spotlighting new possibilities offered by innovation in education, with each of the twelve 2023 finalists demonstrating new and proven solutions to key education challenges within their communities and beyond," said CEO of WISE Stavros N. Yiannouka.

Whether enabling access to quality early childhood education, empowering refugee communities through access to digital literacy, or promoting nature-based community learning, these finalists are actively transforming young lives and empowering communities to take action in the face of today's most heightened challenges.

Six winners will be announced in September, and they will be celebrated at the upcoming summit in Doha, taking place from Nov. 28-29. In addition to publicity and networking opportunities, each winning project will receive USD 20,000 (US).

Since its inception in 2009, the WISE Awards have recognized and promoted 90 innovative projects, from over 150 countries, that are addressing global educational challenges.

This year's finalists represent a wide range of sectors and locations, showcasing a growing resource of expertise and sound educational practice.

The projects emphasize the need for education to be inclusive and equitable, with many finalists working to ensure marginalized communities have access to quality learning opportunities.

The use of evidence-based practices and data-driven approaches is also a common thread among the finalists, demonstrating a commitment to rigor and impact in education.

By showcasing these diverse approaches and innovative practices, the 2023 WISE Awards finalists are paving the way for a more dynamic and effective education landscape globally.

(QNA)