Indian teacher and activist Rouble Nagi has brought global recognition to grassroots education in India by winning the $1 million Global Teacher Prize 2026. The award was presented at the World Governments Summit in Dubai for her work in setting up hundreds of learning centres and using murals to teach children in slum areas. From a small workshop with 30 children to reaching over a million learners, her journey reflects the power of dedication, creativity and belief in education.
Global Teacher Prize 2026
- The Global Teacher Prize 2026 made headlines after Rouble Nagi won the award at the World Government Summit in Dubai.
- She received a $1 million prize, making it one of the most valuable awards in education globally.
- The award was presented by GEMS Education and handed over by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum during the summit.
Who Is Rouble Nagi and What Makes Her Work Unique
- Rouble Nagi is an Indian teacher, artist and social activist who believes education should reach children where they live.
- Through the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation, she has established more than 800 learning centres across India.
- These centres support children who have never attended school as well as those already enrolled.
- Her innovative approach combines basic education with creativity, making learning accessible and engaging for the most marginalised communities.
Learning Through Art: Turning Walls into Classrooms
- One of Rouble Nagi’s most distinctive contributions is the use of educational murals painted on the walls of slums and public spaces.
- These murals teach literacy, mathematics, science and history in a visual and relatable way. For children living in informal settlements, the walls become learning tools.
- This approach breaks the barrier of classrooms and textbooks, proving that education can happen anywhere when methods are simple and inclusive.
Journey from 30 Children to Over a Million Learners
- Accepting the award, Rouble Nagi recalled starting her work 24 years ago with just 30 children in a small workshop.
- Over time, her efforts expanded across cities and communities, reaching more than one million children.
- She described the achievement as humbling and said her lifelong dream has been to see every child in school.
- Each step, she noted, motivated her to do more for children who are often invisible to formal systems.
Rouble Nagi’s Prize Money Use and Future Vision
- Rouble Nagi plans to use the $1 million prize money to build an institute that will provide free vocational training.
- This next step aims to equip young people with skills for employment and self-reliance.
- Education leaders have praised her vision, with UNESCO officials highlighting that her work reinforces a simple truth — teachers play a decisive role in shaping lives and communities.
About the Global Teacher Prize
- The Global Teacher Prize was launched in 2015 to recognize outstanding teachers worldwide.
- It is awarded annually and is often called the “Nobel Prize for Teaching”.
- Rouble Nagi is the 10th winner of the award.
- Previous winners include educators from Kenya, Palestine, Canada and Saudi Arabia, each known for transformative work in challenging environments.
Question
Q. The Global Teacher Prize is presented by which organization?
A. UNESCO alone
B. World Bank
C. GEMS Education
D. UNICEF
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