Scholastic Senior Vice President, Education (International) Duriya Aziz Singapore Wala was named as one of just ten Finalists for the first-ever Asia Education Medal. Founded by T4 Education and HP, this honor will be awarded to an outstanding individual who has demonstrated impact, leadership, and advocacy in the field of education.
A Mumbai native and Singapore resident for four decades, Dr. Aziz has worked tirelessly to champion reading and math proficiency in classrooms around the world. At Scholastic, she’s focused on making reading and literacy accessible to all learners by crafting blended solutions that are informed by research-based best practices and culturally appropriate for students across Asia.
Furthermore, Dr. Aziz is well known for introducing Singapore's math pedagogy to over 50 countries across Asia and around the world. She has also collaborated with Singapore’s Ministry of Education to develop and implement blended instructional and professional development courses based on the principles of Singapore mathematics.
Inspired by her grandchildren, Dr. Aziz has written several picture books and authored textbooks for English and math learners, as well as academic articles on English language teaching and materials development. She is a regular presenter at education conferences and active volunteer in her community, where she advocates for girls’ education and life-long learning.
Andrea Davis Pinkney, VP, Executive Editor, Scholastic Trade Publishing and New York Times bestselling author, said: “It is my great pleasure to endorse Dr. Duriya Aziz as a finalist for the Asia Education Medal. Dr. Aziz is a visionary leader with an abiding commitment to education and diversity. She cares deeply about young people and the power of literacy to transform their lives.”
The Asia Education Medal winner will be announced in October, and will be chosen by a Global and Expert Jury. The winner will be invited to attend the World Schools Summit in Dubai this November and will be entitled to nominate a school of their choice to receive membership to T4 Education’s Best School to Work program – an independent, evidence-based program that recognizes schools for their culture and helps them transform their working environment to attract and retain the best teachers.
Congratulations to Dr. Aziz and all the other Finalists for the inaugural Asia Education Medal! To keep up with more exciting news like this, check out @ScholasticEdu on X and @Scholastic on LinkedIn!