DFID Global School Partnerships programme has been awarded the inaugural Steve Sinnott Special Award for Commonwealth Teachers at the Commonwealth Education Practice Awards in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this week. DFID Global School Partnerships was one of nine projects to be short listed for the Education Awards, which give governments, civil society and non-governmental organisations from around the world the opportunity to showcase and share their innovative work.

Since 2003 DFID Global School Partnerships has offered professional development to 2,600 teachers in the UK and Southern countries.

Two students whose schools have DFID Global School Partnerships also attended the Awards ceremony to make presentations about the benefits of the programme. Megan Jones, 17, from Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni in Wales, and Isuru Aminda Vithanage, 16 from Nalanda College in Sri Lanka were selected after winning a competition open to schools in Commonwealth countries that have partnerships.

Megan said: ‘We have gained a greater understanding of equality and social justice through our DGSP partnership, and it was a very valuable opportunity to be able to explain this to the Commonwealth Ministers at the Awards.’

This award adds to the recognition that DFID Global School Partnerships has already received, including a World Aware Education Award in 2008 for excellence in networking, partnerships and co-ordination to increase and improve global education.