The UNESCO International Literacy Prizes focus on a specific theme every year. This year the theme was Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces. Sponsored by the government of the Republic of Korea, the UNESCO KING Sejong Literacy Prize recognizes contributions to mother language-based literacy development. Based on the recommendation of an international jury, Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar won the award in the category of ‘Mother Tongue Based Multilingual Education Program’. 

Dr Achyuta Samanta, the founder of KIIT and KISS at a press conference in Bhubaneswar informed that the prize carried an endowment of USD 20,000, a medal and a diploma. He further added that the award has come as a national and a state pride. Further, addressing the media he stated “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 to provide holistic education to millions at margins as I have realised that education can only make a child complete to take on the challenges of life,” 

The Vice Chancellor of KISS, Prof Deepak Kumar Behera, who is a well-known anthropologist said “the multi-lingual lab was one of the recommendations of the National Education Policy 2020, but it has been implemented in our institution long ago. We have also published an illustrated dictionary to help the indigenous children and their teachers to manage the linguistic challenges during the learning process.’’ He further stated “Our education model at KISS, however, being holistic and inclusive in all aspects also ensures respect for the individual cultural identity of each indigenous community member,”

The CEO and Registrar of KISS Dr Prashant Kumar Routray stated that as the language learning model is now adopted by Centre and State Government, the institution has 35 expert trainers and 150 teachers associated with the multi-lingual lab. He further added that KISS makes an utmost effort to ensure there is a sync between home language and school language for the indigenious students through its multi-lingual lab, a student-centric curriculum and a homely atmosphere in the institute. 

MULTI-LINGUAL CURRICULUM

KISS is the fifth institute from India and the first from Odisha to receive the UNESCO KING Sejong Literacy Prize. It is also the third among the non-profit NGOs and first indigenous based organisation to have conferred this award. KISS received the award at the global award ceremony of International Literacy Day organised by UNESCO in Cote d’ Ivoire on 8th and 9th September 2022. International Literacy Day is commemorated 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.

KIIT as we know is the largest institute in the world for the indiginus students and 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. KISS a sister concern of KIIT, was established in 1992-93 by Dr Samanta with an aim to empower indigenious population through education. KISS is a free residential educational institution that comprises a school, college and a university all with a collective goal to provide holistic education, comprehensive skills and empowerment to indigenous students. Not only KISS, but this coveted recognition also brings Odisha to prominence for its efforts in changing the education ecosystem. Moreover, it is more of a commemoration for the indiginoous communities as the award is truly for them.

KISS Deemed-to-be University is the world's first university exclusively for indigenous students. KISS has transformed 700,000 lives in indigenous communities indirectly or lives of 70000 indiginous children amongst which 30000 are pursuing education and 40000 are alumni. In collaboration with the various UN agencies, KISS has implemented numerous initiatives related to education and empowerment. Not to forget, KISS is affiliated with UNDPI and also has a special consultative status with ECOSOC (since 2015)