A SCHOOL in Dagupan City, Pangasinan was among five schools that won at the inaugural World’s Best School Prizes for helping rehabilitate mangroves and provide new habitats for fish.

The Bonuan Buquig National High School took the environmental prize after it restored lost mangroves to reverse the environmental devastation caused by Typhoon Pepeng in 2019.

Meanwhile, the Dunoon Grammar School in Scotland won the category of community collaboration for skill-based courses, including in travel and tourism, design and maritime studies, intended to stem a brain-drain.

Escuela Emilia Lascar in Peñaflor, Chile won for innovation for its “Emilia TV” program which addressed issues from mental health to gender identity.

Project Shelter Wakadogo in north Uganda won the prize for overcoming adversity after locals secured land, levelled roads and planted vegetables for school meals in an area that suffered from civil war.

Curie Metropolitan High School in Chicago, Illinois, won the supporting healthy lives prize for providing an arts program for students, many from minorities, as well as integrated health services.

T4 Education announced the five winning schools in a live-streamed ceremony on Wednesday.

The five schools shared $250,000 in prize money for supporting pupils and communities, especially during the pandemic.

Founded during the pandemic, T4 brings together teachers from around the world via a digital platform providing tools and initiatives for education.