WISE prize winner to get $500,000

DOHA, Nov.2 (MNA) -- Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder and chairperson of BRAC, which was formerly known as the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, has been awarded the first WISE (World Innovative Summit for Education ) Prize for Education in recognition of his 40-year career dedicated to alleviating poverty through education. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the emir of the State of Qatar, presented the prize, which is a major award for education, to Abed at the opening session of the third summit in Doha, Bangladesh’s Daily Star reported. Abed, who also spoke at the summit, said, “I am very happy getting the WISE prize. I am also happy for all the BRAC employees who have been recognized by the award.” The winner of the 2011 WISE Prize for Education will receive a gold medal and $500,000. The prize is a major attraction of this year’s summit. WISE, launched in 2009, is seeking to create a collaborative platform for education innovators and stakeholders. The organizers hope the event will help accelerate the cause of education internationally, including in those territories which are lagging behind in introducing reforms. Ensuring educational opportunities for all children worldwide, at latest by 2015, and eliminating disparities at all levels of education are two of the declared objectives of WISE.