Winning the Global Teacher Prize, a Teacher in India Builds 800 Schools Gets USD1 Million

JAKARTA - A teacher and education activist in India, Rouble Nagi, won the 2026 Global Teacher Prize, making him eligible for a prize worth USD1 million.

The teacher, known for giving birth to hundreds of schools or learning centers in slums in India, received the award at the World Government Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Thursday, February 5.

At the event, the USD1 million prize was awarded directly by the Varkey Foundation, whose founder, Sunny Varkey, founded the non-profit company GEMS Education which manages dozens of schools in Egypt, Qatar, and the UAE.

"Rouble Nagi represents the best of what a teacher can do - courage, creativity, compassion and a firm belief in the potential of every child," Varkey said in a statement posted on the Global Teacher Prize website.

Nagi owns the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation which has built more than 800 learning centers across India, with the aim that children who have never been to school or dropped out of school begin to get structured learning.

He is also diligent in doing educational murals on the walls of slum settlements, the themes taken in his paintings include literacy, science, mathematics, and history.

"By bringing education to the most marginalized communities, he not only changed the lives of individuals, but also strengthened families and communities," the statement continued.

Receiving USD1 million, Nagi plans to use it to build an institute that offers free vocational training.

UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, Stefania Giannini, said the award given to Nagi "reminds us of a simple truth: teachers are important."

In a comment posted on the awards' website, Giannini said UNESCO "is honored to join the Global Teacher Prize in celebrating teachers like you, who, through patience, determination, and belief in every student, help children get to school - an act that can change a person's life path."