DOHA AN Indian educationist and social worker Dr Madhav Chavan, who has helped millions of Indian children learn to read and write without a brick and mortar school or the aid of a single paid teacher, won the WISE Prize for Education 2012.
The Emir His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani presented the award to Chavan in the presence of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser during the opening ceremony of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) 2012 at the Qatar National Convention Center in Doha on Tuesday.
The WISE Prize carries a cash award of $500,000 and a special gold medal.
Chavan devised a formula to bring education and literacy to millions of children at a minimum cost. He is the co-founder and CEO of Pratham, the largest non-governmental provider of basic literacy and numeracy for underprivilleged children in India.
Pratham is active in 17 states in India and five other countries have collaborated with the organisation in these efforts. Its programmes address pre-school education, learning support to both in-school and out-ofschool children, computer literacy, vocational training and special programmes for vulnerable and working children. His initiatives such as ‘ReadIndia’ and ‘Education to Educate’ have helped millions of children achieve literacy and complete higher education.
While accepting the award, Chavan pledged to carry on his mission acting as a global ambassador of education.
He said: “Many individuals and organisations have contributed to the success we celebrate today. I share this honour with them. WISE is pursuing a similar mission on a global scale and I applaud its vision and inclusive approach. This prize is a major landmark that only reminds me how much more remains to be done.” “Students supported by the organisation to pursue higher education pay back by teaching the young students as part of the agreement,” he added.
Congratulating Chavan, WISE Chairman Dr Abdulla bin Ali al Thani said, “Madhav Chavan serves as an inspiration to all of us. His story combines the passion of a social entrepreneur with the patience and method of a scientist. His approach shows that the most important resources for successful innovation are a clear vision, determination and the ability to apply uncommon capacities to a shared cause. Chavan has brought light into the lives of many millions of people and I congratulate him on his remarkable achievement.” Chavan launched a mission to make a huge impact at low cost. It combined the primary elements of government infrastructure, corporate resources and citizen volunteerism, which produced striking results in bringing literacy to Mumbai’s slum-dwelling children.
Independent studies have shown that children who have attended Pratham’s programmes are much likely to learn effectively in primary school than other children in their age group and that they perform better than their classmates.
Chavan’s scientific method includes monitoring and evaluation.
Pratham’s Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) measures quantitative and qualitative aspects of the programme, including enrolment, facilities and learning outcomes. The model has been replicated in a number of countries in Asia and Africa.
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