Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented the prestigious $1 million Global Teacher Prize to Indian educator and social innovator Rouble Nagi during the closing ceremony of the World Government Summit. The award recognizes her extraordinary 24-year commitment to providing art-based education to underprivileged children across India’s most marginalized communities.
Nagi, an accomplished artist and transformative educator, emerged victorious from a competitive field of over 5,000 nominations spanning 139 countries worldwide. Her groundbreaking ‘Misaal India’ initiative has delivered low-cost, creativity-driven education to more than one million children residing in over 100 slums and remote villages throughout India.
The emotional award ceremony witnessed Nagi visibly moved as she accepted the honor, describing the recognition as “a dream come true.” Her innovative educational approach seamlessly integrates literacy, numeracy, life skills, and vocational training through engaging artistic projects that actively involve both children and their broader communities.
Beyond her educational contributions, Nagi pioneered ‘Misaal Mumbai’—India’s inaugural slum transformation project that has revitalized urban landscapes by painting more than 155,000 homes while simultaneously implementing critical sanitation improvements, waterproofing solutions, and comprehensive hygiene workshops.
Now celebrating its tenth anniversary, the Global Teacher Prize stands as the world’s most significant educational award, established through collaboration between the Varkey Foundation and UNESCO. Since its inception, the initiative has received over 100,000 applications and nominations globally, highlighting exceptional educators who create substantial impact within their communities.
The ceremony also acknowledged other distinguished finalists, including Sharjah educator Hala Shahin, who earned recognition among the top 50 contenders for her innovative integration of smart learning technologies and artificial intelligence in educational settings.
Previous award recipients, including 2023 winner Pakistani educator Sister Zeph, attested to the prize’s transformative power, noting how the recognition amplified their voices and expanded their capacity to inspire educational change worldwide.