Image copyright Varkey Foundation Image caption Brother Peter Tabichi has been praised as an "exceptional teacher" who gives away most of his salary

A science teacher from rural Kenya, who gives away most of his salary to support poorer pupils, has won a $1m prize (£760,000) for the world's best teacher.

Peter Tabichi, a member of the Franciscan religious order, won the 2019 Global Teacher Prize.

Brother Peter has been praised for his achievements in a deprived school with crowded classes and few text books.

He wants pupils to see "science is the way to go" for their futures.

The award, announced in a ceremony in Dubai, recognises the "exceptional" teacher's commitment to pupils in a remote part of Kenya's Rift Valley.

He gives away 80% of his pay to support pupils, at the Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Pwani Village, Nakuru, who otherwise could not afford uniforms or books.

Improving science

"It's not all about money," says Brother Peter, whose pupils are almost all from very disadvantaged families. Many are orphaned or have lost a parent.

The 36-year-old teacher wants to raise aspirations and to promote the cause of science, not just in Kenya but across Africa.

On winning the prize, Brother Peter hailed the potential of Africa's young population.

"As a teacher working on the front line I have seen the promise of its young people - their curiosity, talent, their intelligence, their belief.

"Africa's young people will no longer be held back by low expectations. Africa will produce scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs whose names will be one day famous in every corner of the world. And girls will be a huge part of this story."

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Many pupils walk more than four miles to reach the school, in Kenya's Rift Valley

The award, in a competition run by the Varkey Foundation, has seen him beating 10,000 other nominations from 179 countries.

He is a Franciscan friar, a member of the Catholic religious order founded by St Francis of Assisi in the 13th Century.

Brother Peter says there are "challenges with a lack of facilities" at his school, including not enough books or teachers.

Classes meant to have 35 to 40 pupils are taught in groups of 70 or 80, which, he says, means overcrowded classrooms and problems for teachers.

The lack of a reliable internet connection means he has to travel to a cyber-cafe to download resources for his science lessons.

And many of the pupils walk more than four miles (6km) on bad roads to reach the school.

But Brother Peter says he is determined to give them a chance to learn about science and to raise their horizons.

His pupils have been successful in national and international science competitions, including an award from the Royal Society of Chemistry in the UK.

The judges said that his work at the school had "dramatically improved his pupils' achievement", with many more now going on to college or university, despite resources at the schools being "severely constrained".

Status of teaching

Brother Peter says part of the challenge has been to persuade the local community to recognise the value of education, visiting families whose children are at risk of dropping out of school.

He tries to change the minds of families who expect their daughters to get married at an early age - encouraging them to keep their girls in school.

Image caption "This is Africa's time," said the prize-winning teacher, Brother Peter Tabichi

Brother Peter said the award was an optimistic sign.

"It's morning in Africa. The skies are clear. The day is young and there is a blank page waiting to be written. This is Africa's time," he said.

Brother Peter was congratulated by Kenya's president, Uhuru Kenyatta.

"Peter - your story is the story of Africa, a young continent bursting with talent. Your students have shown that they can compete amongst the best in the world in science, technology and all fields of human endeavour," said the Kenyan president.

The competition is intended to raise the status of the teaching profession.

Last year's winner was an art teacher from north London, Andria Zafirakou, and among this year's top 10 finalists has been Andrew Moffat, a Birmingham head teacher at the centre of a row with parents about lessons on LGBT rights.

The founder of the prize, Sunny Varkey, says he hopes Brother Peter's story "will inspire those looking to enter the teaching profession and shine a powerful spotlight on the incredible work teachers do all over Kenya and throughout the world every day".

"The thousands of nominations and applications we received from every corner of the planet is testimony to the achievements of teachers and the enormous impact they have on all of our lives," he says.

More from Global education

The editor of Global education is Sean Coughlan (sean.coughlan@bbc.co.uk).</s>
• The 36-year-old teacher was declared the winner of the 2019 Global Teacher Prize at a colourful ceremony held in Dubai.
• In a bid to ensure no student is left behind and continue to see "science is the way to go" Mr Tabichi gives away 80% of his pay to support the students, who otherwise could not afford uniforms or books.

A big-hearted Kenyan science teacher has been named the world's best teacher and awarded a cool $1 million prize (£760,000).

Peter Tabichi, who teaches sciences at Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Pwani Village, Nakuru, was declared the winner of the 2019 Global Teacher Prize at a colourful ceremony held in Dubai.

The Global Teacher Prize is an annual US $1 million award by the Varkey Foundation to a teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession.

The judges said that his work at the school had "dramatically improved his pupils' achievement", with many more now going on to college or university, despite resources at the schools being "severely constrained".

"As a teacher working on the front line I have seen the promise of its young people - their curiosity, talent, their intelligence, their belief.

"Africa's young people will no longer be held back by low expectations. Africa will produce scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs whose names will be one day famous in every corner of the world. And girls will be a huge part of this story." Tabichi said on winning the prize.

In a bid to ensure no student is left behind and continue to see "science is the way to go" Mr Tabichi gives away 80% of his pay to support the students, who otherwise could not afford uniforms or books.

"It's not all about money," says Brother Peter, whose pupils are almost all from very disadvantaged families. Many are orphaned or have lost a parent.

The school boasts few textbooks and crowded classes. Classes meant to have 35 to 40 pupils are taught in groups of 70 or 80.

Mr Tabichi is also a Franciscan monk, a member of the Catholic religious order founded by St Francis of Assisi in the 13th Century.

Going forward, the 36-year-old teacher wants to raise aspirations and to promote the cause of science, not just in Kenya but across Africa.</s>A science teacher from rural Kenya, who gives away most of his salary to support poorer pupils, has won a $1m prize (£760,000) for the world's best teacher.

Peter Tabichi, a member of the Franciscan religious order, won the 2019 Global Teacher Prize.

Brother Peter has been praised for his achievements in a deprived school with crowded classes and few text books.

He wants pupils to see "science is the way to go" for their futures.

The award, announced in a ceremony in Dubai, recognises the "exceptional" teacher's commitment to pupils in a remote part of Kenya's Rift Valley.

He gives away 80% of his pay to support pupils, at the Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Pwani Village, Nakuru, who otherwise could not afford uniforms or books.

"It's not all about money," says Brother Peter, whose pupils are almost all from very disadvantaged families. Many are orphaned or have lost a parent.

He wants to raise aspirations and to promote the cause of science, not just in Kenya but across Africa, he says.

The award, in a competition run by the Varkey Foundation, has seen him beating 10,000 other nominations from 179 countries.

But Brother Peter says there are "challenges with a lack of facilities" at the school, including not enough books or teachers.

Classes meant to have 35 to 40 pupils are taught in groups of 70 or 80, which, he says, means overcrowded classrooms and problems for teachers.

The lack of a reliable internet connection means he has to travel to a cyber-cafe to download resources for his science lessons.

And many of the pupils walk more than four miles (6km) on bad roads to reach the school.

But Brother Peter says he is determined to give them a chance to learn about science and to raise their horizons.

His pupils have been successful in national and international science competitions, including an award from the Royal Society of Chemistry in the UK.

Brother Peter says part of the challenge has been to persuade the local community to recognise the value of education, visiting families whose children are at risk of dropping out of school.

He tries to change the minds of families who expect their daughters to get married at an early age - encouraging them to keep their girls in school.

The competition is intended to raise the status of the teaching profession.

Last year's winner was an art teacher from north London, Andria Zafirakou, and among this year's top 10 finalists has been Andrew Moffat, a Birmingham head teacher at the centre of a row with parents about lessons on LGBT rights.

The founder of the prize, Sunny Varkey, says he hopes Brother Peter's story "will inspire those looking to enter the teaching profession and shine a powerful spotlight on the incredible work teachers do all over Kenya and throughout the world every day".

"The thousands of nominations and applications we received from every corner of the planet is testimony to the achievements of teachers and the enormous impact they have on all of our lives," he says.
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The editor of Global education is Sean Coughlan (sean.coughlan@bbc.co.uk).</s>Tabichi, from Keriko Secondary School, Pwani Village, Nakuru, Kenya, who was announced the winner at a glittering awards ceremony, said “teachers matter” and declared it as a win for the whole world. He said he was surprised and honoured with the victory.

Now in its fifth year, the $1 million (Dh3.67 million) award is the largest prize of its kind and is awarded annually to an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Finalists were selected from over 10,000 nominees and applications from 179 countries around the world. Apart from these, there have also been tens of thousands of applications for the 33 National Teacher Prizes that have been inspired by the Global Teacher Prize. The winners of each National Teacher Prize were also put forward for consideration when the top 50 shortlist for this year’s global prize was decided.

Peter Tabichi is a science teacher who gives away 80 per cent of his monthly income to help the poor. His dedication, hard work and passionate belief in his student’s talent has led his poorly-resourced school in remote rural Kenya to emerge victorious after taking on the country’s best schools in national science competitions.

Their lives can be tough in a region where drought and famine are frequent. Ninety-five per cent of pupils hail from poor families, almost a third are orphans or have only one parent, and many go without food at home. Drug abuse, teenage pregnancies, dropping out early from school, young marriages and suicide are common.

Turning lives around in a school with only one computer, poor internet, and a student-teacher ratio of 58:1, is no easy task, not least when to reach the school, students must walk 7-km along roads that become impassable in the rainy season.

Peter started a talent nurturing club and expanded the school’s Science Club, helping pupils design research projects of such quality that 60 per cent now qualify for national competitions. Peter mentored his pupils through the Kenya Science and Engineering Fair 2018 — where students showcased a device they had invented to allow blind and deaf people to measure objects.

Peter saw his village school come first nationally in the public schools category. The Mathematical Science team also qualified to participate at the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair 2019 in Arizona, USA, for which they’re currently preparing. His students have also won an award from The Royal Society of Chemistry after harnessing local plant life to generate electricity.

Peter and four colleagues also give low-achieving pupils one-to-one tuitions in Maths and Science outside class and on the weekends, where Peter visits students’ homes and meets their families to identify the challenges they face. Despite teaching in a school with only one desktop computer with an intermittent connection, Peter uses ICT in 80 per cent of his lessons to engage students, visiting internet cafes and caching online content to be used offline in class. Through making his students believe in themselves, Peter has dramatically improved his pupils’ achievement and self-esteem.

Enrolment has doubled to 400 over three years, and cases of indiscipline have fallen from 30 per week to just three. In 2017, only 16 out of 59 students went on to college, while in 2018, 26 students went to university and college. Girls’ achievement in particular has been boosted, with girls now leading boys in all four tests set in the last year.

“Seeing my learners grow in knowledge, skills and confidence is my greatest joy in teaching! When they become resilient, creative and productive in the society, I get a lot of satisfaction for I act as their greatest destiny enabler and key that unlocks their potential in the most exciting manner.”

The 10 finalists for the Global Teacher Prize 2019</s>× Kenyan teacher who gives away 80% of his salary is awarded a $1M global prize

) –A math and physics teacher from rural Kenya, who gives away 80% of his monthly income to help the poor, has won a $1 million prize.Peter Tabichi, who is also a Franciscan brother, was awarded the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize on Sunday.

He teaches at a rural Kenyan school in Pwani Village, with only one computer, poor internet and a student-teacher ratio of 58:1. Nearly all his students are from poor families, and almost a third of them are orphans or have only one parent.

Tabichi gets online educational content by visiting internet cafes and using them offline in class, according to his profile from the Varkey Foundation.

He guided the school’s science club, in which students now compete in national and international competitions. The mathematical science team qualified to compete the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair this year in Arizona. His students also won an award from the Royal Society of Chemistry after using local plant life to generate electricity.

“Everyday in Africa we turn a new page and a new chapter. Today is another day,” Tabichi told the foundation. “This prize does not recognize me but recognizes this great continent’s young people.”

Tabichi’s students face many challenges, including food scarcity, drug abuse, teenage pregnancies and young marriages. Yet at the Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School where Tabichi teaches, enrollment has doubled over three years and more of the students are going on to college, according to his profile.

“You have to do more and talk less,” Tabichi said.

He accepted the award from actor Hugh Jackman, who hosted the ceremony in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.</s>Teacher from remote Kenya village who gave away salary to poor wins $1 million global teacher prize

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Teacher from remote Kenya village who gave away salary to poor wins $1 million global teacher prize.</s>Global Teacher Prize: Man who gives away 80% of his salary wins $1m award

Global Teacher Prize: Man who gives away 80% of his salary wins $1m award

A maths and physics teacher from rural Kenya who donates most of his salary to help the poor has been named the best teacher in the world.

Peter Tabichi received the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize for his efforts in turning around the fortunes of Keriko secondary school, located in an impoverished village in the southeastern province of Pwani.

Drought and famine are frequent problems for many of those who attend the school, which has a single computer with an unreliable internet connection, and a student-teacher ratio of 58:1.

Youngsters have also been prone to dropping out, with drug abuse, teenage pregnancies and suicide all common.

Mr Tabichi has been key to changing the outlook of many of the pupils, having launched a popular talent-nurturing club and expanded the existing science club, which has helped boys and girls design research projects.

Their work has been of such quality that Mr Tabichi mentored some of his pupils through the 2018 Kenya Science and Engineering Fair, where students showcased a device to allow blind and deaf people to measure objects.

Keriko came first nationally in the public schools category, and there has been similar success in other subjects.

The Mathematical Science team has qualified to participate at the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair, which takes place later this year in Arizona, and students have also been honoured by The Royal Society of Chemistry for using local plant life to generate electricity.

Mr Tabichi - who gives away 80% of his monthly income - was greeted by a rapturous reception at an awards ceremony in Dubai on Sunday, receiving his trophy and a $1m (£756,000) prize from actor Hugh Jackman.

The teacher said: "Every day in Africa, we turn a new page and a new chapter.

"Today is another day. This prize does not recognise me, but recognises this great continent's young people. I am only here because of what my students have achieved.

"This prize gives them a chance. It tells the world that they can do anything."

Mr Tabichi beat 10,000 nominations from 179 countries to claim the prize, with the 10 finalists having all come from different nations - including the UK and the US.

The UK finalist was assistant headteacher Andrew Moffat, of Parkfield Community School in Birmingham, who runs a programme called No Outsiders to teach the importance of inclusiveness and diversity.

It has proved unpopular with some parents who do not want their children to be taught about issues such as LGBT rights and homophobia, which they do not believe are age-appropriate subjects.

But - citing UK government statistics that revealed a 17% spike in hate crimes in the UK last year - the award panel said the message provided by the scheme "has never been more timely".

Other finalists included Melissa Salguero of Joseph R Drake Elementary School in the Bronx in New York City, where she raised enough money to start its first successful music programme for 30 years, and Martin Salvetti, who runs a radio station for students at a secondary school in Buenos Aires.

Japanese teacher Hidekazu Shoto, of Ritsumeikan Primary School in Kyoto, was recognised for his innovative efforts to help students who are unable to travel abroad to learn English, including the use of Skype for international calls and the online game Minecraft to encourage collaboration between youngsters from different countries.

And Debora Garofalo made it to the final for her work with students in a deprived area of Sao Paulo, where she has helped them identify and map the social and economic problems of the region through photography.</s>A science teacher from a remote village in Kenya has won a US$1 million global prize recognising and celebrating the impact and importance of the world's best educators.

Peter Tabichi, a maths and physics teacher from Kenya's famine-prone Rift Valley, was selected out of 10,000 teachers from almost 180 countries to win the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2019.

"I'm immensely proud of my students, we lack facilities that many schools take for granted," Tabichi says.

"So as a teacher, I just want to have a positive impact not only on my country but on the whole of Africa."

Tabichi, 36, teaches at Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in a remote town called Pwani Village, where approximately 95 percent of students live in poverty, and about one-third are either orphans or have only one parent.

In this difficult educational environment, marked by delinquency and children dropping out of school, Tabichi introduced a Talent Nurturing Club, while expanding an existing Science Club: positive steps that helped enrolments to double inside three years.

But attendance isn't the only thing going up; so is Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School's reputation for scientific achievement.

Under Tabichi's mentorship, students from Pwani Village came first in the public schools category of Kenya's Science and Engineering Fair last year, with a device that enables blind and deaf people to measure objects.

Keriko students also won an award from the Royal Society of Chemistry, with a project that generates electricity from plants, and qualified for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2019, being held in Phoenix, Arizona in May.

These feats are even more impressive when you consider that the school only has one computer, with intermittent internet access.

For many of these children, who are sometimes unlikely to get enough food at home before attending their classes, and who grow up in a community wrestling with drugs, crime, teen pregnancies, and youth suicide, Tabichi's efforts have been literally life-changing, significantly boosting the school's numbers of pupils continuing on to university study.

In addition, Tabichi, who is also a Franciscan Brother, started a Peace Club at the school, to help integrate students from seven different tribes, all of which attend Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School, and introduced a common program for prayer and worship during school assembly, embracing the religions practised by different students.

Just what the teacher will do with his US$1 million prize money is unclear, but it will almost certainly involve education and charity. Tabichi already donates 80 percent of his teaching salary to local community projects, including his school, and the development of sustainable agriculture in Pwani Village.

For Tabichi, the rewards of his work are self-evident.

"Seeing my learners grow in knowledge, skills and confidence is my greatest joy in teaching," he says.

"When they become resilient, creative and productive in the society, I get a lot of satisfaction, for I act as their greatest destiny enabler and key that unlocks their potential in the most exciting manner."

Winning the award, which was presented during a ceremony hosted by Hugh Jackman in Dubai on Sunday, Tabichi said his experiences showed him that "Africa's young people will no longer be held back by low expectations".

"Africa will produce scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs whose names will be one day famous in every corner of the world," he said.

"And girls will be a huge part of this story," he added – a reference to the fact that female students are now outperforming boys in tests at Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School; another turnaround on his watch.

It's a proud day for Peter Tabichi, and for all inspired by his teachings.

"You are a shining example of what the human spirit can achieve," Kenya's president, Uhuru Kenyatta, said in a message of congratulations.

"Not just for Kenya. Not just for Africa. But for the world."</s>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Teacher from remote Kenya village who gave away salary to poor wins $1 million global teacher prize.</s>Kenyan teacher who gives salary to poor wins $1 million teaching prize

A science teacher from rural Kenya, who gives away most of his salary to support poor students, has won one of the world's richest teaching awards.

Franciscan monk Peter Tabichi was awarded the $1 million ($1.4 million) prize in recognition of his work in a deprived school that struggles with crowded classes and few resources.

"I feel great. I can't believe it. I feel so happy to be among the best teachers in the world, being the best in the world," he said after the award ceremony.

Mr Tabichi teaches at Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Pwani Village, where 95 per cent of his students live in poverty and 30 per cent are orphans or from single-parent families.

Social issues such as drug abuse, teenage pregnancies and early marriage all contribute to high dropout rates from the classes crammed with as many as 80 students, he said.

He said he planned to use the prize money to improve the school and feed the poor.

Mr Tabichi said despite the challenges his students faced, with hard work their skills were improving.

"I'm immensely proud of my students," he said.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a statement Mr Tabichi's story was "the story of Africa" and one of hope for future generations.

Mr Tabichi was selected out of out 10,000 applicants.

The Global Teacher Prize is awarded by the Varkey Foundation, whose founder, Sunny Varkey, established the for-profit GEMS Education company that runs 55 schools in the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Qatar.

Now in its fifth year, the prize is the largest of its kind, and has become one of the most coveted and prestigious awards for teachers.

Past winners have included a British art teacher working with ethnically diverse children, a Canadian teacher working with indigenous students in an Arctic region with high suicide rates, and a Palestinian teacher helping West Bank refugee children traumatised by violence.
The 2019 Global Teacher Prize and its $1 million (£760,000) purse is awarded to Brother Peter Tabichi, a Franciscan science teacher from rural Kenya. Tabichi gives away 80 percent of his salary to support poorer pupils at the Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Pwani Village, Nakuru.