By Rosemary Etim Bassey
An inspiring teacher from India has just been named the world’s best with a grand prize of $1 million.
Rouble Nagi was awarded the prestigious Global Teacher Prize at the World Government Summit held in Dubai. The award, organised by the Varkey Foundation in partnership with UNESCO, celebrates teachers who are making a huge impact in their communities and beyond.
However, what makes Nagi stand out isn’t just what she teaches; it’s how she teaches.
Instead of traditional classrooms, she turns empty walls in underprivileged communities into colourful outdoor learning spaces. Through her foundation, she paints bright murals that teach children subjects like maths, reading, science, hygiene and environmental awareness. Imagine walking past a wall and accidentally learning algebra. Iconic.
Over the past 20 years, Nagi has set up more than 800 learning centres across India, reaching children who may never have had access to formal education. She has also trained hundreds of volunteer teachers, helping her mission grow even bigger.
From starting with just 30 children in a small workshop to now impacting over a million young learners, her journey is proof that big change can start small. Very small.
In her acceptance speech, Nagi said the award isn’t just for her; it belongs to every child who dared to dream and every teacher who refuses to give up. She plans to use the prize money to expand her work, improve facilities, and create a skills institute that will offer vocational and digital training for young people.