Two Indian education pioneers have been selected as finalists for the inaugural Asia Education Medal. This award, established by UK-based T4 Education and Technology giant HP, recognizes an exceptional individual who has made significant contributions in education through impact, leadership, and advocacy.
Ashish Dhawan, Founder and Chairperson of the Central Square Foundation, and Pranav Kothari, CEO of Educational Initiatives (Ei), will vie for the medal alongside other distinguished finalists from Singapore, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Japan, and Malaysia. The Asia Education Medal, to be awarded in October, complements the Africa Education Medal established in 2022 and the newly introduced Latin America Education Medal, both of which honor exceptional achievements in education.
“The Asia Education Medal brings together all those who are changing the face of Asian education, whose work we must all learn from if the world is to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030”, said Mayank Dhingra, Senior Education Business Leader at HP. “HP has a bold goal to accelerate digital equity for 150 million people globally by 2030. Only by joining forces and aligning with NGOs, government, educators and businesses can we truly improve the education environment”, he said.
Dhawan’s Central Square Foundation (CSF) is a leading education philanthropy in India, recognized for its significant contributions to promoting Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN). Since its founding in 2012, CSF has played a crucial role in making FLN a central focus of India’s K-12 education system, which serves 250 million children. The foundation also emphasizes the integration of EdTech, aiming to implement digital solutions for both in-class and at-home learning and to develop evidence-based practices while leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance learning outcomes.
Kothari’s Educational Initiatives (Ei) leverages advanced pedagogical research and technology-driven solutions to enhance student learning across various socio-economic backgrounds. Kothari’s efforts address the issue that, despite increased school enrollment in India due to expanded education infrastructure, this growth has not always led to improved learning outcomes. Ei emphasizes the importance of high-quality competency-based assessments and provides valuable insights into student misconceptions to improve educational effectiveness.
“The Asia Education Medal honours changemakers where change is needed most, where learning gaps remain stubbornly persistent and where deep inequalities remain. If we are to tackle these colossal challenges, and unlock the continent’s future, we must build a community of leaders from every sphere of society committed to educational transformation – leaders like Ashish Dhawan and Pranav Kothari”, said Vikas Pota, Founder and CEO of T4 Education.
Nominations for the Asia Education Medal began in February, inviting individuals from various fields—including educators, school leaders, civil society figures, public servants, government officials, political leaders, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and technologists—who are dedicated to enhancing pre-kindergarten, K-12, vocational, and university education. The recipient of the medal will be honored with an invitation to attend the World Schools Summit in Dubai this November.
