Sidhulai Floating School in Chalanbeel depression has won the UNESCO Confucius Literacy Award 2025, bringing international recognition to the innovative approach of boat schools to reach quality education to the children living in hard-to-reach areas surrounded by water.
The school鈥檚 founder Mohammad Rezwan, a certified engineer, said that the idea of founding boat schools came in the background of his childhood that passed in Chalanbeel, the largest wetland in northern Bangladesh, covering around 1,150 square kilometres and straddling Sirajganj, Natore and Pabna distrcits.
Born and brought up in the area, Rezwan experienced the days of closure of his school during the monsoon and flooding season, seriously hampering their education and creating learning gaps.
Rezwan said that his boat schools, founded in 2002, were the first of its kind in the world to be replicated elsewhere in the country in the later years.
鈥楨ducation is not just about reading and writing鈥攊t builds peace, equality and tolerance. I hope that with the power of literacy and knowledge, our youth will create a future where no disaster can stop the education of any child,鈥� Rezwan told 抖阴精品 as he reflected on the achievement.聽聽
Rezwan, at the very beginning of his initiative, transformed local boats into floating schools that gradually grew into a full-fledged school system, powered by solar energy and incorporating libraries and training centres, among other facilities.
As the children of the flood-prone villages do not have to travel to school now, instead their school travels to their doorstep in the shape of colourful boats, they no more face flood-forced school closure causing long learning gaps.
Students and teachers of Sidhulai Floating School that worked in Bhardanagar area in Chatmohar upazila expressed their jubilation at the global recognition.
Class-III students Sadia Khatun and Ibrahim Hossain said that they hoped to study harder to uphold their school鈥檚 reputation.
鈥榃e are happy and proud that our floating school has received the UNESCO award,鈥� said its teacher Rowshan Ara Parveen.
The award also inspired her to say, 鈥榃e will try our best to improve the quality of education in the future with everyone鈥檚 blessings.鈥�
Nazmul Huda, programme manager of Sidhulai Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha, a non-governmental body and the mother organisation owning the boat schools, explained the formation of the school.
鈥楥urrently, classes are being held in 26 boats across the Chalanbeel area. Each boat accommodates three classes, and 30 students attend each boat,鈥� he said.
The Sidhulai model has been replicated by various NGOs in the country and also inspired similar initiatives across Asia, Africa and Latin America.聽
Recognising its importance, the Bangladesh government has also included Rezwan鈥檚 floating school in the National Adaptation Plan 2050.
This year, UNESCO selected three initiatives from hundreds of nominations worldwide for the Confucius Literacy Award.
Alongside Bangladesh鈥檚 Sidhulai Floating School, the other two winners are Ireland鈥檚 Learn with Nala e-learning platform and Morocco鈥檚 Second Chance School and Inclusive Education Programme.
Engineer Mohammad Rezwan, the founder of Sidhulai Floating School, received the trophy and certificate on behalf of the school at the 20th award ceremony held in China on September 27.
