The Varkey Foundation’s Global Schools Prize is a landmark new education award: The US $1 million Global Schools Prize seeks to recognise and celebrate exceptional schools from around the world – institutions that are re-imagining what’s possible in education.
The Global Schools Prize is open to all government-run and privately funded schools that teach students up to the age of 18, in every country in the world, subject to local laws, and that are going above and beyond to deliver quality education.
The Global Schools Prize will identify ten outstanding category winners from a longlist, who will each be awarded $50,000. Of those, one extraordinary school will receive the Global Schools Prize and $500,000 to scale its impact.
One of the 10 categories recognises schools, whether fully inclusive mainstream institutions or specialist SEND schools (schools for special educational needs and disabilities), that demonstrate exceptional commitment and measurable impact in providing high-quality education for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
An important part of the online application for the Global Schools Prize is uploading proof of any awards, certifications, accreditations or other forms of recognition the school has received.
This is where DbI comes in. As part of the Global Education Campaign, DbI will award a Certificate of School Excellence in Deafblindness to one school each in Africa, Asia and Latin America for their work in educating children with deafblindness. This DbI Global Education Campaign Certificate of School Excellence in Deafblindness will provide clear support for applications for the Global Schools Prize.
It is open to any private or public school – whether fully inclusive mainstream institutions or specialist SEND schools – that demonstrate exceptional commitment, excellent competence and a measurable positive impact in providing high-quality education for children and young people with deafblindness.
Important Dates:
- Applications open: 7 October 2026, 11 pm CEST
- Applications close: 6 November 2026, 12 pm CET (noon)
- Winners notified: 21 November 2026 (The three winners – one school each from Africa, Asia and Latin America – will be notified on 21 November 2026. The decision will be taken by the leadership team of DbI’s Global Education Campaign.)
- Application deadline for the Varkey Foundation’s Global Schools Prize: 16 December 2026
Application Form: Apply here: Application form for the DbI Global Education Campaign Certificate of School Excellence in Deafblindness