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Indian Artist-Educator Rouble Nagi Wins $1 Million Global Teacher Prize in Dubai

She plans to channel the award into a free institute for vocational and digital skills.

Overview

  • Nagi received the 2026 GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, with the award administered by the Varkey Foundation in collaboration with UNESCO.
  • Through the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation, she has set up more than 800 community learning centres across over 100 underserved locations in India.
  • Her “Living Walls of Learning” turn neglected walls in slums into interactive murals that teach literacy, numeracy, science, hygiene, history, and social values.
  • She has recruited and trained over 600 local educators and volunteers to run the centres, tailoring flexible, low-cost, practical learning to children facing poverty, child labour, and irregular attendance.
  • Reporting from organizers and local media highlights reduced dropout rates and improved retention under her model, which has expanded from Mumbai’s slums to regions including Jammu and Kashmir.