Delhi Public School has been named a Top 10 finalist for the World’s Best School Prizes 2025 for Environmental Action. The five World’s Best School Prizes, founded by T4 Education to share the best practices of schools that are changing lives in their classrooms and far beyond their walls, are the world’s most prestigious education prizes.
Delhi Public School Varanasi, an independent kindergarten, primary and senior-secondary school in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, is creating an environment where students are empowered to explore, grow and lead with compassion through its learner-centric educational model that embeds environmental stewardship and social responsibility into the learning experience, and has been named a Top 10 finalist for the World’s Best School Prize for Environmental Action. Driven by the need to address the impact of environmental harm in the region, along with the desire to entrench a ‘service before self’ school culture, the school’s reimagined approach includes the entire community – students, parents and staff – to delivering high-quality education that blends traditional Indian values with modern global perspectives to build both competence and character.
Through its collaborative culture and sustainability-led learning model, students learn the value of selflessness and community service. Various projects developed and led by students provide them with international perspectives on issues such as climate change and access to clean water, and Say no to plastic. They also provide hands-on experience that extends beyond the classroom to shape academically accomplished and empathetic individuals equipped to lead as socially responsible, globally connected citizens.
With sustainability as the core of school culture, the student-led initiatives have had a significant community impact. Trees have been planted, plastic waste have been diverted from landfills and made into eco-bricks, and close to 500 students across 23 schools globally have been engaged, creating a powerful platform for collaborative action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with 70% of participating students reporting a heightened sense of responsibility and global awareness. Currently, students are collaborating with local hospitals to install vertical planters, and the newly launched Har Ghar Neem Abhiyan (Neem for Every Home – A Community Plantation Drive) is aiming to become a massive green movement led by the community. This shared sense of purpose has also positively impacted staff retention.
In this collaborative learning environment, DPS Varanasi is showing students that change is possible, education can fuel lasting impact, and being active contributors in their community can make a meaningful difference.
The winners of the five World’s Best School Prizes – for Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity, and Supporting Healthy Lives – will be chosen by an expert Judging Academy based on rigorous criteria. All winners will be announced in October.
The winners and finalists of these global schools prizes will be invited to the World Schools Summit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on November 15-16, where they will share their best practices and unique expertise and experience with policymakers and leading figures in global education.
