Rubal Nagi Wins USD 1 Million Global Teacher Prize
Dubai — Social activist Rubal Nagi, known for establishing hundreds of learning centres and creating educational wall murals on hut walls, won the USD 1 million Global Teacher Prize on Thursday.
Nagi accepted the award in Dubai during the World Government Summit. This annual event attracts leaders from around the world.
Through the Nagi Art Foundation, he has established more than 800 learning centres across India. These centres provide structured education to children who have never attended school, and also teach children who are already in school.
Teaching through wall murals
Nagi creates wall murals that teach subjects including:
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Literacy
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Science
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Mathematics
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History
It is stated that these murals help improve children’s education and creativity.
Plan for the prize money
Nagi has said he plans to use the USD 1 million prize to build an institute that will provide free vocational training.
About the Global Teacher Prize
The Global Teacher Prize is awarded by the Varkey Foundation. Its founder, Sunny Varkey, established the for-profit GEMS Education company, which operates dozens of schools in Egypt, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
The prize has been awarded since 2015, and Nagi became its 10th winner.
Previous winners mentioned
Past winners include:
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A Kenyan teacher from a remote village
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A Palestinian primary school teacher
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A Canadian teacher
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Saudi teacher Mansour al-Mansour
They have been providing their students education focused on social service, non-violence, and working with people living in poverty.
Note on GEMS Education
GEMS Education, or the Global Education Management System, is described as one of the world’s largest private school operators, with its value estimated in the billions.
Its success is said to be based particularly on its ability—especially in Dubai—to provide classes to foreign children through private schools, which has a major impact on the local economy.
February 6, 2026 [2082 Magh 23 (BS)]
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