Indian Educator Rouble Nagi Wins Global Teacher Prize for Slum Education Work

Global Recognition for Grassroots Education Reform

Indian teacher and social activist Rouble Nagi has won the Global Teacher Prize , earning worldwide recognition for transforming access to education among children living in urban slums.

The award was presented in Dubai on 5 February , honouring her sustained efforts to bring structured learning to children who had never enrolled in school and to prevent dropouts among those at risk.

Murals and Learning Centres: An Innovative Teaching Model

Rouble Nagi has pioneered a distinctive approach to education by combining community learning centres with educational wall murals . She has established over 800 learning centres across India and transformed slum walls into open-air classrooms.

The murals depict lessons in literacy, mathematics, science, and history , allowing children to learn visually in familiar surroundings. This method has proved especially effective in communities where classrooms are scarce and schooling is disrupted by migration and poverty.

Grassroots Teaching and Teacher Mentorship

Nagi works directly with children across multiple states while mentoring the teachers who run daily instruction at the centres. She has recruited and trained more than 600 volunteer and salaried educators , many drawn from the same communities.

Her model is tailored to harsh social realities such as child labour, early marriage, domestic responsibilities, and irregular attendance . Flexible schedules, hands-on learning using recycled materials, and skill-based lessons linked to family livelihoods ensure education remains practical and relevant.

Global Teacher Prize and Future Vision

Rouble Nagi is the 10th recipient of the Global Teacher Prize, launched in 2015 to celebrate educators who combine innovation with measurable social impact.

The prize carries USD 1 million , equivalent to approximately ₹83 crore , which she plans to invest in setting up an institute for free vocational training . The proposed institute aims to equip students with employable skills, extending support beyond foundational education into economic self-reliance.

Why the Recognition Matters

Previous recipients of the Global Teacher Prize have included educators working with marginalised communities in countries such as Kenya, Palestine, Canada, and Saudi Arabia. Nagi’s selection highlights India’s grassroots education innovations and reinforces the global relevance of inclusive, community-based learning models that address deep-rooted social and economic barriers.

Her work demonstrates how education, when adapted to lived realities, can become a powerful instrument of social transformation.

Exam-Focused Key Points

• Global Teacher Prize was launched in 2015

• Prize money is USD 1 million (≈ ₹83 crore)

• Recognises innovation and social impact in education

• Rouble Nagi uses murals and community centres for slum education

• Focuses on dropout prevention and first-generation learners