Indian teacher and activist Rouble Nagi has now joined that list after winning the $1 million Global Teacher Prize on Thursday. She was honoured for her work in bringing education to underserved communities. With hundreds of learning centres and educational murals painted across slum walls, reported NDTV.
The Global Teacher Prize is one of the world’s most prestigious awards in education. Often referred to as the “Nobel Prize for teaching,” it recognises educators who have made an extraordinary impact on students and communities. Eventually, the $1 million award, presented by the Varkey Foundation, celebrates teachers who go beyond classrooms to transform lives.
Through her Rouble Nagi Art Foundation, she has established more than 800 learning centres across India. These centres help children who have never attended school begin structured learning while also supporting those already enrolled.
Moreover, her work goes far beyond traditional teaching. Nagi paints murals that double up as educational tools. It covers subjects like literacy, science, math, and history – turning neighbourhood walls into open classrooms.
She doesn’t just create these spaces; she also travels across the country to work directly with children and mentor the teachers running the centres. So far, she has recruited and trained over 600 volunteers and paid educators, reported TOI.
Many of these classrooms operate in challenging environments. Children face poverty, child labour, early marriage, irregular attendance, and limited access to basic facilities. In order to tackle these barriers, Nagi introduced flexible schedules for working children, practical learning using recycled materials, and skill-based lessons that families find meaningful.
Sunny Varkey, founder of the Varkey Foundation, praised her impact. Rouble Nagi represents the very best of what teaching can be – courage, creativity, compassion, and an unwavering belief in every child’s potential.
Additionally, he added that by reaching marginalised communities, she has not only changed individual lives but also strengthened families and neighbourhoods.
Nagi accepted the award at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, an annual gathering attended by global leaders. She plans to use the $1 million prize to build an institute offering free vocational training.
Sometimes the most powerful classrooms aren’t defined by four walls. But by the determination of a teacher who refuses to let circumstances decide a child’s future. Kudos to her!