The Secrets of the Indian Teacher Who Won a Million Dollar Prize
Rouble Nagi, an Indian educator, has been awarded the Global Teacher Prize 2026 for her innovative approach to education in vulnerable communities.
Rouble Nagi, a 45-year-old Indian teacher, has been awarded the prestigious Global Teacher Prize 2026, a million-dollar accolade presented by the Varkey Foundation in partnership with UNESCO, that recognizes outstanding contributions by educators globally. For over 20 years, Nagi has worked tirelessly to engage children in education, particularly in the most vulnerable areas of India, making learning not just necessary but enjoyable through her artistic initiatives.
Her acclaimed project, Living Walls of Learning, is a transformative educational program that turns decaying and abandoned walls in underprivileged neighborhoods into large-scale murals. These murals serve as powerful teaching tools, conveying lessons in language, mathematics, and environmental awareness. This innovative approach has made a significant impact, implemented in more than 800 educational centers, and has been instrumental in reducing school dropout rates in the communities she serves.
Nagi's achievement not only highlights her dedication as an educator but also brings attention to the pressing issue of educational disparities in India. Her work illustrates the potential of creative, community-focused solutions in enhancing education and fostering student engagement, ultimately inspiring other educators around the world to rethink their teaching methods and approaches for tackling similar challenges in their own regions.