PR97728

BHUBANESWAR, India, Sept. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

    Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar has won the

prestigious UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize 2022 for its outstanding literacy

programme based on the recommendations of an international jury.

    The UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize is sponsored by the Government of the

Republic of Korea and recognizes contributions to mother language-based

literacy development. KISS has received the award in the category of 'Mother

Tongue Based Multilingual Education programme'. The award carries an endowment

of US$ 20,000, a medal and a diploma. KISS is a constituent of the KIIT Group

of Institutions.

    The award was presented at a global award ceremony organised by UNESCO in

Côte d'Ivoire on 8 and 9 September 2022 to celebrate International Literacy Day.

    The programme aims to tackle the challenges of poor retention of indigenous

students in elementary schools due to classroom language barriers and teachers'

incapacity to deal with multilingual and multicultural classrooms effectively.

    Every year, the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes focus on a specific

theme. This year, the spotlight was on Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces.

KISS is the fifth institute from India and the first from Odisha to receive

this international prize. It is also the third among the non-profit NGOs and

first indigenous based organisation to be conferred with this award.

    KISS, the largest institute for the indigenous students in the world, is

credited with the adoption of innovative pedagogies as learning tools and

bringing about a perceptible change in the socio-economic lives of the

indigenous population through education. This recognition also brings the state

of Odisha to prominence on the world map for its efforts at changing the

education ecosystem. Moreover, it is also a big day of celebration for

indigenous communities as it is truly an award for them.

    KISS is a not-for-profit organisation headquartered in Bhubaneswar, Odisha,

India. It was established in 1992-93 by well-known educationist Dr Achyuta

Samanta to empower the indigenous population through education. It is a fully

free residential educational institution that provides holistic education,

comprehensive skilling and sports empowerment.

   The educational initiative at KISS comprises a school, a college and a

university founded with the objective of providing food, education and

empowerment to indigenous children.

    "I thank UNESCO for recognizing our efforts and social innovations in the

field of education, literacy and indigenous empowerment. In my childhood, I

struggled to get proper education and now I put all my life and soul to provide

holistic education to millions at margins," Dr. Samanta said in his message.

    KISS has transformed the lives of 70,000 indigenous children (30,000

children pursuing education and 40,000 alumni) directly and about 700,000 lives

in the indigenous communities indirectly. Its higher education wing, KISS

Deemed-to-be University is the world's first university exclusively for

indigenous students. KISS has in its course of evolution and function

collaborated with various UN agencies and organs for the implementation of

several initiatives related to education and empowerment. KISS has been in

special consultative status with ECOSOC since 2015 and is affiliated with

UNDPI.

    Since its inception, KISS has been respecting the diversity of indigenous

languages and dialects. It has consistently focused on imparting classroom

teaching in the mother tongue at elementary levels before transitioning to a

common language. This one-of-its-kind pioneering efforts of KISS took a

concrete shape in the form of 'Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education' in

2013.

    KISS, which adopted the Multilingual Education Programme through innovation

sandbox, has set an example for other educational institutions and governments

to impart classroom teaching in indigenous languages. It aims to tackle the

challenges of poor retention of indigenous students in elementary schools due

to classroom language barriers and teachers' incapacity to deal with

multilingual and multicultural classrooms effectively. The programme is in a

hybrid format with face-to-face and distance learning modules using low-tech

solutions such as television, radio, and text messaging.

    Media Contact:

    Dr. Shradhanjali Nayak

    director.pr@kiit.ac.in    

    +91 674 2725636

    Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1894670/KISS_Foundation.jpg

    Photo:https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1894669/Achyuta_Samanta_with_students.jpg

    Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1507512/KISS_Logo.jpg

SOURCE: KISS