Happy Chandara School, a free education institution which supports underprivileged girls, has been named among the world’s top 50 schools in the Global Schools Prize 2026, earning international recognition for its student wellbeing and holistic education model.
The school, located near Phnom Penh and operated by the French NGO Toutes à l’école, was selected from nearly 3,000 nominations and applications across 113 countries worldwide, according to a May 5 press release.
Happy Chandara was recognised in the Health and Wellbeing category of the Global Schools Prize, an initiative of the Varkey Foundation that honours innovative and impactful schools around the world.
The recognition highlights the school’s approach to combining academic achievement with mental health support, student protection, nutrition and personal development for disadvantaged girls.
“This Top 50 nomination for the Global Schools Prize 2026 rewards the commitment of our entire educational community and confirms Happy Chandara School as a model of innovation and social impact in education,” said the statement.
Founded by Tina Kieffer, the NGO Toutes à l’école provides free, high-quality education to vulnerable girls in Cambodia, supporting students from kindergarten through to employment.
The school currently serves around 1,700 students and has maintained a 100 per cent pass rate in Cambodia’s national high school examinations each year, according to the organisation.
Beyond academics, the school operates daily sports programmes, psychological support services, two boarding houses for vulnerable students and a sustainable canteen providing around 2,000 agro-ecological meals.
It also runs initiatives focused on mental health, gender equality and community engagement, areas increasingly recognised globally as essential components of quality education.
In a congratulatory message, Sunny Varkey, founder of the Varkey Foundation and GEMS Education, praised the Cambodian school’s educational approach.
“Your approach to teaching and learning powerfully demonstrates how schools play a defining role in equipping young people with the knowledge, skills and values needed to shape our rapidly evolving world,” he said.
The achievement places Cambodia in the international spotlight at a time when the Kingdom continues efforts to improve education quality, inclusion and student welfare nationwide.
The Global Schools Prize is considered one of the world’s leading education awards, recognising schools that demonstrate innovation, community impact and strong learning outcomes.