Entries invited for global teacher prize

Now in its second year, and widely referred to as the Nobel Prize for teaching, the $1 million award is the largest prize of its kind.

By Staff Reporter

Published: Wed 3 Jun 2015, 12:03 AM

Last updated: Wed 8 Jul 2015, 2:51 PM

Dubai - Teachers from the UAE were urged to apply for the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2016 at globalteacherprize.org. The prize is awarded under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Now in its second year, and widely referred to as the Nobel Prize for teaching, the $1 million award is the largest prize of its kind.

It was set up to recognise one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession as well as shine a spotlight on the important role teachers play in society. By unearthing thousands of stories of heroes that have transformed young people’s lives, the prize hopes to bring to life the exceptional work of millions of teachers all over the world.

At the same time as applications were declared open, the Varkey Foundation and Club de Madrid published an open letter signed by over 25 former world leaders calling on “Governments around the world to protect and value teachers, and play their part in restoring the respect they so richly deserve”.

The letter also argues that: “Frequently the ills of society are laid at the door of teachers. They are blamed for everything from a decline in manners among young people to a lack of basic skills in the workplace. They have even, on occasion, been blamed for a country’s poor economic performance. Too often politicians see teachers as an easy target for short-term political gain.”

Sunny Varkey, Founder of the Global Teacher Prize, thanked the signatories of the letter as he said: “Teachers matter. These former world leaders understand that we need great teachers to grow great minds in order to solve the world’s problems. Raising the bar of respect and celebrating teachers across the world can play an important role in helping to recruit and retain the best candidates for the profession.”

The applicants for the Global Teacher Prize 2016 will be shortlisted down to a top 50 and then a final 10, which will be announced in February 2016. The winner will be chosen from the ten finalists by the global teacher prize academy made up of prominent individuals including academy award winning actor Kevin Spacey; Wendy Kopp, CEO Teach For All; and Brett Wigdortz, Founder of Teach First.

All ten finalists will be flown to Dubai for an award ceremony taking place at the Global Education and Skills Forum in March 2016 where the winner will be announced. The closing date for applications is the October 10.

The prize is open to currently working teachers who teach children that are in compulsory schooling, or are between the ages of five and eighteen. Teachers who teach on a part-time basis are also eligible, as are teachers of online courses. The prize is open to teachers in every kind of school and, subject to local laws, in every country in the world.

Applicants can apply in English, Mandarin, Arabic, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian.

To join the conversation online follow @TeacherPrize and #teachersmatter on: www.twitter.com/TeacherPrize and www.facebook.com/TeacherPrize

reporters@khaleejtimes.com