Roshen Lakeview Academy in Busia County has been shortlisted among the world’s top 10 schools competing for the 2026 World’s Best School Prize for Overcoming Adversity, earning Kenya global recognition for its efforts to improve access to quality education for vulnerable learners.
The independent kindergarten, primary and junior secondary school, located in Port Victoria, Bukoma in Bunyala Sub-County, was shortlisted by T4 Education, the organisation behind the annual World’s Best School Prizes, which recognizes schools making an outstanding contribution to education and society.
Founded in 2022 following the COVID-19 pandemic, the awards celebrate institutions demonstrating excellence in Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity and Supporting Healthy Lives.
Roshen Lakeview Academy was recognised for its innovative efforts to restore hope and expand learning opportunities for children from disadvantaged backgrounds in a community affected by poverty, recurrent flooding, high HIV prevalence, orphanhood and early marriages.
The school serves learners from the fishing community of Port Victoria, where many children face social and economic challenges that often limit access to education and future opportunities.
According to T4 Education, the institution has transformed from a community feeding programme into a fully-fledged learning centre implementing Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Besides academic instruction, the school offers mentorship, leadership development, supervised study sessions, peer learning, sports and confidence-building programmes aimed at nurturing well-rounded learners.
Its teaching model integrates classroom instruction with collaborative projects, visual learning approaches and activities that promote communication, creativity and critical thinking, while daily affirmation sessions encourage learners to build confidence and aspire to higher goals.
Founder of T4 Education, Vikas Pota, congratulated the school on its achievement, saying the recognition demonstrates that Kenyan schools continue to rank among the world’s best in delivering quality education under challenging circumstances.
He noted that the shortlisted schools have developed practical solutions that equip learners with the knowledge, skills and resilience needed to thrive in an increasingly complex world.
The winners of the five World’s Best School Prizes will be selected by an international judging academy based on established criteria, while members of the public will also vote to determine the recipient of the Community Choice Award.
The top three finalists and winners are expected to be announced in November this year.
All shortlisted schools will be invited to participate in the World Schools Summit scheduled for January 16-17, 2027, in London, United Kingdom, where they will share best practices with policymakers and education leaders from across the globe.
The recognition comes as Kenya continues to implement reforms aimed at improving access to quality, equitable and inclusive education through the Competency-Based Education and other initiatives designed to strengthen learning outcomes across the country.
By Aron Kinyamasyo
