3 Pakistani schools named finalists for world’s best school prize

Three schools from Pakistan have been named among the top finalists for the 2025 World’s Best School Prizes, a prestigious global competition recognizing outstanding educational practices, according to a press release.

The shortlisted schools include Sanjan Nagar Public Education Trust Higher Secondary School and Nordic International School in Lahore, and the Beaconhouse College Programme in Quetta.

The annual prizes, launched in 2022 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, honor schools worldwide that are transforming the lives of students and communities through innovative approaches in education.

Sanjan Nagar, a charity-based school in a working-class neighborhood of Lahore, was recognized for its pioneering use of the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Primary Years Programme (PYP) curriculum.

As the first school in Pakistan to bring the IB system to underserved students, it now serves around 800 students from economically vulnerable backgrounds. The school’s inclusive model integrates the UN Sustainable Development Goals and inquiry-based learning, and its alumni have gone on to earn international scholarships and professional success.

Beaconhouse College Programme in Quetta was named a finalist in the Community Collaboration category for its “Science Gaari” project — a mobile, student-led science lab that brings hands-on STEM education to children in rural Balochistan.

The program seeks to break barriers for underprivileged students who otherwise lack access to scientific learning tools.

Nordic International School in Lahore was also shortlisted in the Community Collaboration category. Known for cultivating strong partnerships with parents and promoting a culture of kindness, the school focuses on social-emotional learning and community engagement as foundations for academic success.

“This is where we find the innovations and expertise that give us hope for a better future,” said Vikas Pota, founder of T4 Education and the World’s Best School Prizes. “In a world being turned upside down by AI, climate change, and economic uncertainty, education with humans at its heart has never been more important.”

Winners will be announced in October across five categories: Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity, and Supporting Healthy Lives. In addition, a public vote has opened for a separate Community Choice Award.

Finalists and winners will gather at the World Schools Summit in Abu Dhabi on November 15–16 to share their experiences and best practices with global education leaders.