Ms. Vicky Colbert, Founder and Director of the Colombian organization Fundacion Escuela Nueva and co-creator of the Escuela Nueva educational model, has been awarded the 2013 WISE Prize for Education.

In 1975, at a time when Colombia was better known for ideological conflict and political violence, Ms. Vicky Colbert set out to lead her own quiet revolution. Convinced that without basic education for all, nothing could be achieved, she transformed the lives of ordinary people in the Colombian countryside by putting the power of quality education in their hands.

The Escuela Nueva model began as a bottom-up approach by bringing together a team of experienced teachers from rural areas to maximize the impact of education both, on the ground and at the highest level. Placing children at the heart of the learning process, teachers became facilitators, working with communities, families, research institutions and policy makers.

This unique pedagogical model became a national policy in Colombia in the 1980’s and was replicated in various regions around the country, expanding to urban and displaced populations. 

With a demonstrated impact on academic achievement, the model has been recognized as one of the most successful public policy reforms among developing countries by organizations including the World Bank and the United Nations.

To date, Escuela Nueva has been implemented throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, East Timor and Vietnam, reaching more than five million children around the globe. 

Receiving the Prize, Ms. Vicky Colbert said: “I am very honored and humbled to receive the 2013 WISE Prize for Education. This Prize recognizes that bringing education to all children and empowering them for lifelong learning is an important foundation for human development, and it is something that can be achieved when teachers and children are given the right tools to lead change.”
 

  

The WISE Prize for Education Jury is composed of five internationally known individuals who have achieved a high level of distinction in their fields. 

They have proven themselves professionally, and as citizens of the world. The members of the Jury are committed to education, human rights and a sustainable future for the planet.
 

Abdulla H.E. Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani, Ph.D., Qatar	Dr James H. Billington Dr. James Billington,  USA	Dr. Monique Canto-Sperber Dr. Monique Canto-Sperber, France
	Ms Michèle D. Pierre-Louis Dr. Michèle Pierre-Louis, Haiti	Prof. Zhou Qifeng Prof. Zhou Qifeng, China

H.E. Prof. Sheikha Al-Misnad H.E. Prof. Sheikha Al-Misnad, Qatar	Prof. Marwan Awartani Prof. Marwan Awartani, Palestinian Territory	Ms Aicha Bah Diallo H.E. Aicha Bah Diallo, Guinea
Dr. Rosa Maria Torres del Castillo Dr. Rosa Maria Torres del Castillo, Ecuador	Dr. Stefanos Gialamas Dr. Stefanos Gialamas, Greece	Dr. Allan Goodman Dr. Allan Goodman, USA
Dr. Don Guttenplan Dr. Don Guttenplan, USA	Prof. Asha Kanwar Prof. Asha Singh Kanwar, Canada	Ms Frannie Léautier Ms Frannie Léautier, Tanzania
Prof. Pan Guang Prof. Pan Guang, China	Dr. Jacek Strzemieczny Dr. Jacek Strzemieczny, Poland	Mr. Stavros Yannouka Mr. Stavros Yiannouka, Cyprus