Bangladesh floating schools run by Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha have won the 2025 UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy, recognising their work in bringing education to children and communities in flood-prone areas.
The Solar-Powered Floating Schools programme was selected for its innovative approach to delivering literacy education in areas where monsoon flooding often cuts off access to regular classrooms.
UNESCO said the project has supported more than 800,000 marginalised learners in flood-prone regions of Bangladesh. The initiative uses boat-based schools equipped with solar power to reach children who might otherwise miss months of education during floods.
Bangladesh Floating Schools Recognised By UNESCO
The programme was founded by Bangladeshi architect Mohammed Rezwan and is run by Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha.
The floating schools operate in vulnerable wetland areas, including the Chalan Beel region, where climate-linked flooding regularly disrupts education.
The award highlights Bangladesh’s growing role in climate-adaptive education and shows how local innovation can help protect learning for children in disaster-prone communities.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, June 11, 2026
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