By Ken Muthomi - Reporter
Kenya, April 2026 - UNESCO has opened applications for the 2026 ICT in Education Prize for teachers and students in a broader effort to enhance creativity among learners in the age of the Artificial Intelligence revolution.
The UN agency said that the prize will recognise initiatives that demonstrate how teachers and students are utilising AI without compromising their intellectual capacity.
“As AI systems grow more capable of composing, calculating, and producing knowledge, the risk that learners increasingly offload their thinking to these systems remains a critical concern,” the agency stated.
UNESCO has said that the prize will highlight teaching approaches that will encourage learners to think critically while using AI responsibly across formal, non-formal, and informal education settings.
The Director-General of UNESCO will select two winners from the competitions based on recommendations from an international jury that will examine the applications.
The agency has noted that each winner shall receive a reward of US$ 25,000 (approximately Ksh3.2million), a diploma, and international recognition during an award ceremony to be held in September 2026.
Applications should be submitted by individuals, institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGO), or other entities with an established, ongoing project that has been ongoing for one year.
“These projects must be relevant to the 2026 theme: Reimagining creativity and critical thinking with artificial intelligence,” it added.
UNESCO has, however, clarified that applicants cannot directly submit their project, but instead, they will be nominated by a National Commission of a UNESCO Member State or an NGO in official partnership with UNESCO.
Interested individuals have been encouraged to view details of the selection process and application through the Prize Webpage, or contact the agency through ictprize@unesco.org.
“All applicants are encouraged to get in touch with the NGO or National Commission ahead of the application process. Self-nominations will not be accepted,” the agency stated.
“Governments of UNESCO Member States and NGOs in official partnership with UNESCO are invited to elicit and nominate up to three projects,” it added.
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