Inaugural WISE Prize for Education Goes to Bangladeshi Fazle Hasan Abed

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Sir Fazle Hasan Abed has been awarded the first WISE Prize for Education in recognition of his 40-year career dedicated to alleviating poverty through education. The establishment of the WISE Prize was announced at the closing of the last WISE Summit in December 2010 as a major accolade to recognize an individual or team for an outstanding, world-class contribution to education. In addition to the gold medal, the winner receives an award of $500,000 (US).

Following an international call for nominations, an 11-strong international committee of educational experts made a preliminary assessment, and a high-level Jury of five eminent individuals, chaired by Dr. Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani, took the final decision.

A specially designed gold medal, bearing the word "education" in over 50 languages, was presented to Abed in Doha (on November 1st) by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, before 1,300 delegates at the opening session of the third World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE).

Abed founded BRAC, formerly known as Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), in 1972 to address the humanitarian crisis, which followed the country’s struggle for independence from Pakistan. Over the next four decades, he built the world's largest and most efficient NGO with 120,000 workers, based on the principle of empowering people to grow as individuals, to manage the welfare of their families, and to contribute to their societies. Its learning and teaching activities now reach almost 140 million people in 10 Asian, African, and Central American countries. Under Abed’s guidance they have acquired the tools to set up their own micro-businesses, become health workers, or teach generations of children. To achieve this, he established and nurtured international networks of like-minded individuals, organizations, and government institutions.

BRAC is also one of the largest nongovernment providers of education in the world, contributing directly to the pre-primary, primary, and secondary education of more than 10 million students. It concentrates on bringing education to children and young people who are not reached by the traditional education system.

In his citation of the Laureate, WISE Chairman H.E. Dr. Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani said: "Fazle Hasan Abed’s life and career embody the values of WISE. He recognized that education is a passport to social inclusion and opportunity. He discovered a successful formula, and he adapted and expanded it – first in Bangladesh and then in other countries. As a direct consequence, millions of people around the world lead healthier, happier, and more productive lives. His vision, resourcefulness, and determination are vital ingredients of the innovation process, and he stands as an example to all of us who believe that education, more than anything else, determines the destiny of individuals and societies. The Jury saw him as an ideal WISE Prize Laureate."

For more information about the WISE Prize, please go to:
www.wise-qatar.org/content/inaugural-wise-prize-education-goes-bangladeshi-fazle-hasan-abed

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