The 36th Edition of the World School Summit (WSS) was convened in Bangkok, Thailand, on 30 May 2026, bringing together education leaders, school principals, directors, policymakers, innovators, and researchers from more than 55 countries.

The summit served as a global platform for knowledge exchange, professional networking, and the celebration of excellence in educational leadership and innovation. Under the theme of building future-ready and happy schools, delegates explored emerging trends in school leadership, governance, educational transformation, and learner-centred innovation.

The World School Summit has established itself as one of the leading international forums dedicated to advancing educational excellence. Since its inception, the summit has attracted thousands of delegates and recognised outstanding contributions by educators and institutions that are driving meaningful change in education systems across the globe.

A significant highlight for South Africa was the international recognition bestowed upon Sivakumarie Reddhi, Senior Leadership Manager of the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance. Ms. Reddhi received the Innovative Leadership in Education Award, recognising her outstanding contribution to educational leadership and school improvement initiatives, with special focus on underperforming schools in Gauteng.

This international recognition highlights the growing importance of leadership-centred interventions in addressing educational challenges and demonstrates how locally developed school improvement strategies can contribute to global conversations on educational transformation.

The award acknowledged Ms. Reddhi’s pioneering work in supporting underperforming schools across Gauteng through targeted leadership development, stakeholder capacitation, and whole-school improvement interventions.

Her work has focused particularly on schools experiencing systemic challenges, where sustainable improvement requires the integration of leadership development, effective governance, educator support, and accountability mechanisms. Through her involvement in intervention programmes, she has championed approaches that build leadership capacity among School Management Teams, communities, educators, and district officials, contributing to improved school functionality and learner outcomes.

This international recognition places the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance, Gauteng, and South Africa among leading examples of innovative educational leadership practice on the international stage.

The award also reflects the broader mission of the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance in promoting excellence in leadership and management across the education sector. By strengthening the capacity of education stakeholders and supporting schools facing significant performance challenges, the institution continues to play a critical role in advancing quality education and sustainable school improvement throughout Gauteng.

The World School Summit 2026 therefore not only celebrated global educational excellence but also provided an opportunity to recognise impactful leadership that is making a tangible difference in schools and communities.

The recognition of Sivakumarie Reddhi stands as a testament to the commitment of the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance to innovative leadership, collaborative intervention, and sustained commitment to educational transformation in South Africa and on the global stage.