Architect Mohammed Rezwan鈥檚 solar-powered floating schools received the UNESCO Confucius prize for Literacy 2025.
Among hundreds of nominations worldwide, UNESCO selected Bangladesh鈥檚 Shidhulai Floating Schools, Ireland鈥檚 Learn with NALA eLearning, and Morocco鈥檚 Second Chance School and Inclusive Education Programme for the prize, said a press release on Friday.
The 20th award ceremony was held in Qufu, Shandong Province, China, the birthplace of Confucius, on September 27.
Rezwan received the trophy and certificate on behalf of his organisation, Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha, which launched the world鈥檚 first floating school in 2002.
The Chinese government sponsors this award.
Talking about his idea of floating schools, Rezwan said, 鈥楨ducation is not only about reading and writing but also about fostering peace, equality and resilience. With literacy and knowledge, our youth can build a future where no disaster prevents children from learning.鈥�
Growing up in the Chalan Bil area in northern part of the country, Rezwan has to witness every year that how floods force schools to close for months.
His simple yet transformative solution was to take schools to the water.
Today, solar-powered boats serve as classrooms, libraries and training centres that keep learning alive even when villages are submerged.
UNESCO praised the initiative for 鈥榙elivering literacy education to marginalised learners in flood-prone regions through locally rooted innovation鈥�.
The Shidhulai floating school programme has now been replicated across Bangladesh by other NGOs and inspired similar projects throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America, said the press release.
The Bangladesh government has incorporated Rezwan鈥檚 floating schools into the National Adaptation Plan 2050.
