World’s best teacher changing lives in Africa

Peter Tabichi, a secondary Math and Science Teacher at Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Nakuru, Kenya, won the 2019 Global Teaching Prize awarded by the Varkey Foundation on March 24, 2019. Tabichi received USD 1 Million as part of the award. Hugh Jackman, the Wolverine and Greatest Showman star, presented the award. He calls teachers as “the real superhearoes.”

“The Global Teacher Prize was set up to recognize one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession as well as to shine a spotlight on the important role teachers play in society. In this way the prize hopes to bring to life the exceptional work of teachers all over the world.”

There were 10,000 nominations and applications from 179 countries. Among these, 50 were shortlisted and then the list was narrowed down to ten finalists. The ten finalists were the following:

Andrew Moffat MBE, a Personal Social Health Education (PSHE) teacher from Parkfield Community School, Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom;
Daisy Mertens, an all subjects teacher at community-based school De Vuurvogel, Helmond, Netherlands;
Débora Garofalo a Technologies for Learning teacher at EMEF Almirante Ary Parreiras, São Paulo, Brazil;
Hidekazu Shoto, an English Language and ICT teacher at Ritsumeikan Primary School, Kyoto, Japan;
Martin Salvetti Head of Automative Studies and Adult Professional Training, at EEST N°5 “2 de Abril” Temperley, Temperley, Buenos Aires, Argentina;
Melissa Salguero, a Music teacher at P.S.48 Joseph R Drake elementary school, the Bronx, New York, United States;
Peter Tabichi, a Maths and Physics teacher at Keriko Secondary School, Pwani Village, Nakuru, Kenya;
Swaroop Rawal, a Life Skills and Drama teacher, at Lavad Primary School, Gujarat and schools across India;
Vladimer Apkhazava, a Civic Education teacher at Chibati Public School, Tbilisi, Georgia,
Yasodai Selvakumaran a History and Society and Culture teacher, at Rooty Hill High School, New South Wales, Australia.

According to Varkey Foundation website: “The Global Teacher Prize serves to underline the importance of educators and the fact that, throughout the world, their efforts deserve to be recognised and celebrated. It seeks to acknowledge the impacts of the very best teachers – not only on their students but on the communities around them.

The Global Teacher Prize is awarded by the Varkey Foundation under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai.”

Watch this video and see how this year’s World Best Teacher is changing lives in Africa.