The Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET) has been awarded the UNESCO’s King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of ICT (Information and Communications Technology) in Education for 2021.
The award “recognises innovative approaches in leveraging new technologies to expand educational and lifelong learning opportunities for all”. The prize rewards individuals and organisations for “implementing outstanding projects and promoting the creative use of technologies to enhance learning, teaching and overall educational performance in the digital age”. An international Jury selects two best projects annually. Each prize winner receives US$ 25,000, a medal and a diploma during a ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. This year’s ceremony will be held on June 24, 2022.
CIET, a constituent unit of National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) under Department of School Education and Literacy (DOSEL), Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India, was proactive in taking learning to the doorsteps of children through the extensive, resilient, ethical, and coherent use of 12 PM eVidya DTH TV channels and nearly 397 radio stations, including community radio stations under the PM eVidya programme. These efforts were especially helpful during the pandemic, when schools were closed, in reaching out to students.