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Wenhui Award Honours Innovative Solutions for Learning Recovery in the Asia-Pacific Region
![Winners and honourable mentions of Wenhui Awards 2022-2023](/sites/default/files/styles/paragraph_medium_desktop/article/2024-04/wenhui_award_2022_ann.png.jpg?itok=06L_z9y6)
The 2022-2023 edition of the Wenhui Award centered on the theme of 'Educational Innovations for Learning Recovery' has announced its two winning projects. These include the 'MoEYS COVID-19 Response and Recovery Plan' developed by the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports (MoEYS) of Cambodia, and the 'AI-Driven Adaptive and Blended Learning Solution' by the Knowledge Platform in Pakistan. Each winner will receive a prize of USD20,000 generously sponsored by the Government of China, which supports this esteemed regional award managed by the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok.
Two additional projects have been granted Honourable Mentions: the 'Kartu Prakerja Programme' by the Project Management Office of Kartu Prakerja within the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of Indonesia, and 'DP Education: Investing in Human Capital Development with Equitable Access to Free Quality Digital Learning' by the Dhammika and Priscilla Perera Foundation (DP Foundation) in Sri Lanka.
These pioneering education initiatives were chosen by an international jury from among 94 applications spanning 25 countries across the Asia-Pacific region, marking a historical milestone in terms of country participation. The latest edition has also seen submissions from countries rarely featured in previous editions of this regional award, including Afghanistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, and Fiji. Out of the applications received, 37 from 16 countries have secured nomination letters from UNESCO National Commissions or respective UNESCO field offices.
The Wenhui (文晖) Award, jointly established in 2010 by the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Programme of Educational Innovation for Development (APEID) and the National Commission of the People’s Republic of China for UNESCO, aims to recognize and reward individuals or institutions making exceptional contributions to educational innovation in the Asia-Pacific region. Each edition of the Award selects two winners, awarding each with a prize of USD20,000. Additionally, Honourable Mentions are granted to applicants demonstrating commendable innovative educational practices.
Since its establishment, the Wenhui Award has recognized a total of 24 winners and bestowed 36 Honourable Mentions upon individuals and organisations from 21 distinct countries across the Asia-Pacific region.
Winner
Applicant: The Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports (MoEYS)
Project Title: MoEYS COVID-19 Response and Recovery Plan
This honour acts as a beacon, lighting the route forward in educational innovation in Cambodia.
Country: Cambodia
Project introduction
Amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cambodia's MoEYS showcased resilience by swiftly implementing a Response and Recovery Plan, supported by funding from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). Key features include a user-friendly e-learning portal, nationwide Home Learning Package (HLP) resources, and inclusive approaches such as Cambodian Sign Language. With 4786 videos and 2974 worksheets produced, the initiative facilitated online access for 50% of children and achieved over 90% of worksheet distribution in 2021. Significant outcomes comprise increased student retention rates, minimal dropout rates, extensive utilization of online resources by over 90% of students, and essential support extended to teachers and parents.
The MoEYS aims to ensure the lasting sustainability of the initiative’s impact by digitally storing learning materials encompassing the entire curriculum. Furthermore, the Ministry advocates for the dissemination of best practices, highlighting the importance of considering country-specific factors and central leadership for replication.
The MoEYS plans to utilize the funds from the Wenhui Award to bolster Early Grade Reading (EGR) implementation in primary education. A portion of the budget will also go towards providing training to trainers at the cluster level, enabling them to deliver refresher training to early grade teachers within their clusters.
Winner
Applicant: Knowledge Platform
Project Title: Al-Driven Adaptive and Blended Learning Solution
![Knowledge Platform's Al-Driven Adaptive and Blended Learning Solution](/sites/default/files/styles/paragraph_medium_desktop/article/2024-04/%5BSelected%5D2.png.jpg?itok=Gi21o7-t)
The award serves as great motivation for us to continue creating a world where every child has access to education.
Country: Pakistan
![Knowledge Platform's Al-Driven Adaptive and Blended Learning Solution](/sites/default/files/styles/paragraph_medium_desktop/article/2024-04/%5BSelected%5D8.jpeg?itok=l8NcUE2O)
Project introduction
Launched in 2016, the Knowledge Platform Pakistan is an innovative solution designed to address educational challenges and mitigate learning losses for 100 million students in Pakistan. During the pandemic, the platform helped tackle extensive school closures by transitioning to online learning. The platform offers a user-friendly Learning Management System, AI-driven personalized and gamified learning tools, and accessible digital resources, including over 4,000 videos, 40,000 questions, and 600 activities. Its emphasis on inclusive and equitable education extends its reach to remote, underserved communities and pays attention to inclusive language and gender equality. This programme has positively impacted over 500,000 students, 12,000 teachers, 1,100 school leaders, and many education communities and public groups. The Knowledge Platform is sustainable and replicable, thanks to its low-cost hardware, worldwide accessibility, and easily adaptable content.
In terms of its plan for utilizing the prize, Knowledge Platform aims at 'expanding the repository of 21st-century learning content and fostering increased engagement through the games-based learning and competitions platform'. It believes that with awarded funds and an expanded platform, its educational offerings are not only innovative but also accessible to a broader audience.
Honourable Mention
Applicant: The Project Management Office of Kartu Prakerja at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs
Project Title: Kartu Prakerja Programme
![Kartu Prakerja Programme of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Indonesia](/sites/default/files/styles/paragraph_medium_desktop/article/2024-04/Prakerja_s%20alumni%20with%20disabilities.png.jpg?itok=ieYV54fD)
Receiving this Honourable Commendation of the Wenhui Award 2022 ignites our passion even further, inspiring us to spread the benefits of our programme more broadly.
Country: Indonesia
![Kartu Prakerja Programme of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Indonesia](/sites/default/files/styles/paragraph_medium_desktop/article/2024-04/Offline%20Training.png.jpg?itok=XWwbbLYB)
Project introduction
Kartu Prakerja is Indonesia’s first large-scale skill development programme, distinguished by its customer-centric design, utilization of cloud computing technology, and innovative G2P 3.0 disbursement methods. Initially launched in 2020 in response to the pandemic's impact on the productive-aged population (18-64 years), the programme provided training credits and cash incentives. Over time, it shifted its focus to post-pandemic skill development, significantly enhancing employment opportunities and fostering awareness of lifelong learning. By 2023, Kartu Prakerja had notably increased workforce training participation from 9.51% in 2019 to 20.6%, benefitting 17.5 million participants by improving their competencies, entrepreneurial abilities, productivity and competitiveness. The programme's success is evidenced by its collaboration with over 390 training institutions and 5,600 training programmes. Moreover, growing international interest from countries like Cambodia, Morocco, and Thailand further cements Kartu Prakerja as a model for educational innovation.
Honourable Mention
Applicant: Dhammika and Priscilla Perera Foundation (DP Foundation)
Project Title: DP Education, Investing in Human Capital Development with Equitable Access to Free Quality Digital Learning
![DP Education, Investing in Human Capital Development with Equitable Access to Free Quality Digital Learning](/sites/default/files/styles/paragraph_medium_desktop/article/2024-04/%5BSelected%5DPicture_1.jpg?itok=JBrk0upJ)
This award not only acknowledges our efforts but also motivates us to intensify our commitment to providing accessible, high-quality digital education and to further our contributions to the community.
Country: Sri Lanka
![DP Education, Investing in Human Capital Development with Equitable Access to Free Quality Digital Learning](/sites/default/files/styles/paragraph_medium_desktop/article/2024-04/%5BSelected%5DPicture_4.jpg?itok=hCeJBRLJ)
Project introduction
DP Education, an initiative by the DP Foundation in Sri Lanka, is a digital platform aiming to offer comprehensive and accessible education while fostering job creation and environmental awareness. With 27 innovative EdTech tools, the platform currently provides 23,000 hours of content, benefiting over 1.8 million students across Sri Lanka. Since January 2023, it has garnered over 1 billion minutes of watch time and gained 2 million subscribers on YouTube. The platform's emphasis on comprehensive and inclusive education is evident through its diverse content, covering subjects ranging from Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STREAM) to sports and environmental education. This content is accessible through various sub-brands and projects such as DP Education IT Campus, DP Education Olympiads, DP Remote Robotics, DP TreeBook, and DP Education Sports. To bridge the digital divide, DP Education has established IT Campuses and IT Silicon Valley Offices to disseminate ICT knowledge and foster job opportunities nationwide.
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![Wenhui Award Honours Innovative Solutions for Learning Recovery in the Asia-Pacific Region](/sites/default/files/styles/paragraph_full_mobile/article/oembed_thumbnails/kXQN1sT76vkFGnIoMI1nIYeMfaKCVVByD4DUOngDCUc.jpg?itok=mUkHgogf)