Global Teacher Prize 2020: Indian teacher wins $1 million

After being crowned winner, Disale made an extraordinary announcement that he will share half the prize money with his fellow top 10 finalists. This means the other nine finalists of the prize will receive $55,000 each, a first in the award’s six-year history. Disale was selected winner from over 12,000 nominations and applications from over 140 countries around the world.

‘Teachers are real change makers’

Disale’s name was announced by English actor, comedian and writer Stephen Fry at a virtual ceremony broadcast from the Natural History Museum in London.

In his acceptance speech, Disale said the pandemic has exposed education and the communities it serves in a multitude of ways. “But in this hard time, teachers are giving their best to make sure every student has access to their birthright of a good education,” he said.

“Teachers are the real change-makers who are changing the lives of their students with a mixture of chalk and challenges. They always believe in giving and sharing. And therefore, I am very pleased to announce that I will share 50 per cent of the prize money equally among my fellow top 10 finalists to support their incredible work. I believe, together, we can change this world because sharing is growing.”

Covid-19 hero announced

The ceremony also included special recognition to UK Maths teacher Jamie Frost who had gone above and beyond to keep young people learning during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Frost was awarded the $45,000 Covid Hero Award for designing the DrFrostMaths programme, which became a lifeline for students shut out of classrooms all around the world.

At this year’s ceremony, the Varkey Foundation has also announced the launch of the new Chegg.org Global Student Prize, a $50,000 sister prize to the Global Teacher Prize, which will open applications and nominations in the new year.

Sunny Varkey, Founder of the Global Teacher Prize, said: “Congratulations to Ranjitsinh Disale for winning the Global Teacher Prize 2020. By sharing the prize money, you teach the world the importance of giving.”

What’s the Global Teacher Prize

Established by the Varkey Foundation, the Global Teacher Prize was launched in Dubai in 2014 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

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