A Ugandan school has received global recognition after winning the Inclusive Education category in the Global Schools Prize 2026, an initiative by the Varkey Foundation that celebrates schools reshaping education through innovation and impact.
Suubi Community Schools, based in Mubende, was selected as the Inclusive Education winner from nearly 3,000 nominations and applications across 113 countries.
The school will receive a $50,000 prize, which is approximately 190,000,000 Ugandan shillings, along with a Global Schools Prize badge recognising its outstanding work in inclusive learning.
Founded by education pioneer Daniel Sebugwawo, the school serves about 570 learners aged 5 to 19. It operates in a context where many children still struggle with basic literacy and numeracy, yet it has developed a strong reputation for its inclusive and skills-based learning approach.
Its model focuses on structured catch-up learning to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy, supported by continuous assessment and personalised learning plans.
Teachers also use adaptive, multi-sensory methods to support learners facing reading difficulties, attention challenges, language barriers, and learning gaps linked to disruptions such as Ebola and COVID-19 school closures.
A key innovation at the school is giving learners with special educational needs and disabilities leadership roles in STEM, arts, and vocational projects. This approach has improved confidence among students and is being recognised as a model that can be replicated in other resource-constrained settings.
Teacher development is delivered through quarterly training cycles guided by UNICEF and World Bank frameworks. The school has also strengthened its learning environment through partnerships with Riverflow International and the installation of solar power systems, which have improved digital access and inclusion.
Community engagement is a central part of its work, with strong parent-teacher involvement helping to challenge stigma around disability, especially for girls, while promoting inclusive education practices.
In addition to winning its category, Suubi Community Schools has been named among the top 10 finalists for the overall Global Schools Prize 2026. The overall winner, who will receive an additional $500,000, about 1.9 billion Ugandan shillings, will be announced at the Education World Forum on 19 May.
The Global Schools Prize, founded by Sunny Varkey, carries a total value of $1 million, roughly 3.8 billion Ugandan shillings, making it the largest award of its kind in education. It highlights schools that demonstrate exceptional commitment to improving learning outcomes for all students regardless of circumstance.
According to Sunny Varkey, the prize is designed to spotlight schools that are not only transforming learning but also inspiring global conversations on how education systems can scale innovative ideas into real-world impact.
The prize is guided by an international council of education and policy experts from organisations such as UNESCO, the OECD, Microsoft, and leading global education networks.
English 