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Global Teacher Prize

Recognizes Exceptional Educators and
Transforming Education Worldwide

The Global Teacher Prize is an annual award presented by the Varkey Foundation to an exceptional teacher who has made a significant impact on their students and community. Established in 2014, the prize aims to highlight the importance of educators and recognize the outstanding contributions they make to society. The award comes with a cash prize of $1 million, making it one of the most prestigious recognitions in the field of education.

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The Global Teacher Prize highlights the crucial role of educators, emphasizing that their contributions deserve recognition and celebration worldwide. It aims to honor the profound impact of outstanding teachers on both their students and their surrounding communities.

By underscoring the significance of teachers in nurturing future generations, the Global Teacher Prize seeks to inspire educators globally to persist in their essential work of shaping young minds and enriching society.

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  • The prize aims to raise the status of the teaching profession, celebrating educators who inspire and contribute significantly to their communities.
     

  • It seeks to highlight the importance of teachers and the complex nature of their work, emphasizing their role in shaping the future.

Pakistani teacher Sister Zeph, who founded her own school for underprivileged children in the courtyard of her home at just 13, has been named the winner of the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2023, organised in collaboration with UNESCO and in strategic partnership with Dubai Cares, a UAE-based global philanthropic organisation. 

Sister Zeph's win was announced on 8th November 2023, at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.

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  • Keishia Thorpe - 2021: Opened up college education for low-income, first-generation American, immigrant and refugee students, has been named the winner of the Global Teacher Prize 2021.
     

  • Ranjitsinh Disale - 2020: Indian village teacher Ranjitsinh Disale, who transformed the life chances of young girls at the Zilla Parishad Primary School, Paritewadi, Solapur, Maharashtra, India, has been named the winner of the Global Teacher Prize 2020, in collaboration with UNESCO.
     

  • Peter Tabichi - 2019: A science teacher and Franciscan Brother who gives away 80% of his monthly income to help the poor. His dedication, hard work and passionate belief in his student’s talent has led his poorly-resourced school in remote rural Kenya to emerge victorious after taking on the country’s best schools in national science competitions.
     

  • Andria Zafirakou - 2018: A British teacher celebrated for her exceptional dedication to education, earning the Global Teacher Prize in 2018. She teaches at Alperton Community School in Brent, one of London's most diverse and economically disadvantaged areas.
     

  • Maggie MacDonnell - 2017: A Canadian teacher whose remarkable contributions to education, particularly in remote and indigenous communities, earned her the prestigious Global Teacher Prize in 2017. Her work is a testament to the power of dedicated educators to transform lives and communities, even in the most challenging environments.
     

  • Hanan Al Hroub - 2016: A Palestinian teacher from Bethlehem, gained global recognition by winning the Global Teacher Prize in 2016 for her innovative approach to education focused on non-violence and peace.
     

  • Nancie Atwell - 2015: An acclaimed American educator, was the inaugural winner of the Global Teacher Prize in 2015. She is celebrated for her pioneering work in literacy and her student-centered approach to teaching.

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  • Open to teachers from all countries, working in various educational settings including public, private, and alternative schools.
     

  • Candidates are evaluated based on their innovative teaching practices, achievements in the classroom, and efforts to improve the quality of education in their community.
     

  • The selection process also considers the teacher’s impact on their students’ learning and their ability to overcome challenging environments.

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  • Teachers can be nominated by others or can apply themselves.
     

  • The selection process involves multiple stages, including a thorough review by an expert panel and the Varkey Foundation’s advisory board.
     

  • Finalists are announced, followed by the selection of the winner, who is awarded during a ceremony.

Find out more or to apply, visit globalteacherprize.org

From Classrooms to Communities: Global Teacher Prize Highlights Impactful Education Leaders

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Who will win the next Global Teacher Prize

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