By Elizabeth Osayande

Abu Dhabi, UAE – In a significant achievement for educational innovation, the Imagine Worldwide Tablet-Based Foundational Learning Programme from Imagine Worldwide in Africa has been awarded the inaugural Global EdTech Prize in the Non-Profits category. The award was announced during the World Schools Summit hosted by T4 Education, Aldar Education, and the Emirates Foundation.

The Global EdTech Prize, founded this year with the support of Owl Ventures and Digital Promise, celebrates groundbreaking educational tools tackling the most pressing challenges in today’s classrooms. Vikas Pota, founder of T4 Education and the Global EdTech Prize, praised the winners, stating, “Congratulations to Imagine Worldwide for winning the inaugural Global EdTech Prize. Your work is a crucial contribution to improving education globally. This award will help amplify your impact and spread your innovative solutions across the world.”

Imagine Worldwide aims to address the literacy and numeracy crisis affecting millions of children in Sub-Saharan Africa. Their program partners with governments, organisations and communities to offer child-directed, tablet-based learning that is both accessible and effective, particularly in resource-limited environments. Notably, the program functions without internet connectivity and does not require grid power or highly-skilled teachers.

The programme’s unique approach allows children to engage with technology and learn independently, guided by a teacher avatar in their national language. “A child who has never seen technology can start their literacy journey by listening to their own avatar,” explained a representative from Imagine Worldwide. “This personalised learning model adapts to various learning paces and ensures that every child can progress at their own speed.”

Alongside Imagine Worldwide, the Global EdTech Prize also recognised Brisk from Brisk Teaching in the USA in the Start-Ups category, and Matific Maths Game from Matific in Australia in the Majors category. The Global Community of Practice from Team4Tech Foundation was also a finalist in the Non-Profits category, showcasing their commitment to enhancing educational opportunities across Africa.

Amit A. Patel, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Owl Ventures, expressed excitement for both the winner and finalists, stating, “By harnessing technology in the service of education, your work deserves recognition worldwide. I hope that through this prestigious award, policymakers, educators, and changemakers see the impact of your innovation and help scale the transformation we need.”

The Global EdTech Prize aims to highlight and support innovations that address urgent educational challenges—ranging from improving literacy to fostering lifelong skills and enhancing social mobility. Educators played a vital role in the judging process, casting votes to determine the winners based on what they believe works best in classrooms.

With nine randomised controlled studies indicating significant learning gains across various countries and languages, Imagine Worldwide’s approach stands out as a beacon of hope in the ongoing battle against educational inequity. The combination of culturally relevant curriculum and user-friendly technology offers a promising path toward achieving better educational outcomes for millions of children.