World’s Best Teacher Prize and One Million Dollars Awarded to Kenyan Teacher from Impoverished Community DUBAI, Mar 25 2019 (IPS) - A maths and physical science teacher from an impoverished school in Kenya’s Rift Valley, Peter Tabichi, has won the one million dollar Global Teacher Prize, becoming the first teacher from Africa to clinch the prize established to honour the profession. Tabichi (36) emerged the winner from a top list of 10 nominees from Brazil, Georgia, Netherlands, United Kingdom, India, United States, Argentina, Australia and Japan. “I cannot believe it,” Tabichi, told IPS at a press conference after he was named winner. “This is a motivation for teachers in Kenya, Africa and the world. It affirms that teaching is the best profession and I will continue to make a change by teaching.” The Global Teacher Prize is the largest prize of its kind that recognises an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession but also to highlight the important role of teachers in society. Actor Hugh Jackman announced Tabichi’s name at a glittering ceremony that sent the packed hall into thunderous applause. Tabichi was recognised for his dedication, hard work and passionate belief in his students’ talent. Thanks to his efforts the poorly resourced Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Nakuru County, in remote rural Kenya, has emerged victorious after taking on the country’s best schools in national science competitions. Related IPS Articles How One Kenyan Teacher is Lifting His Students Out of Poverty With Science Smart Tech Will Only Work for Women When the Fundamentals for Its Uptake Are in Place Local School Is a Model for Energy and Water in Rapa Nui Citing his father as his inspiration for becoming a teacher, Tabichi, a member of the Franciscan Brotherhood, gives away 80 percent of his monthly income to help the poor students in his school, many of whom come from poor families–almost a third are orphans or have only one parent–with many going without food at home. The students have difficult experiences ranging from drug abuse, teenage pregnancies, early school dropout, young marriages and there have been cases of suicide. The school itself has only one computer, a poor internet connection, and a student-teacher ratio of 58:1. “Every day in Africa we turn a new page and a new chapter,” said Tabichi. “This prize does not recognise me but recognises the continent’s young people…as a teacher working on the frontline I have seen the promise of its young people—their curiosity, talent, their intelligence and their belief.” The story of Africa, a young continent bursting with talent Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, congratulated Tabichi on winning the award in a special video message broadcast at the ceremony in which he described Tabichi as a shining example of what the human spirit can achieve, not just for Kenya and Africa, but also for the rest of the world. “Peter your story is the story of Africa, a young continent bursting with talent,” Kenyatta said. “Your students have shown that they can compete among the best in the world in science, technology and all fields of human endeavour. All we need is to give them the right support.” The Global Teacher Prize, open to all working teachers, is part of the Varkey Foundation’s commitment to improving the status of teachers across the world. In their Global Teacher Status Index in November 2013—the first attempt to compare attitudes towards teachers in 21 countries—the study found that between a third and half of the parents surveyed would ‘probably’ or ‘definitely not’ encourage their children to enter the teaching profession. The Global Teacher Status index in 2018 showed for the first time a direct link between teacher status and pupil performance as measured by PISA scores. “I want to congratulate Peter Tabichi for winning the Global Teacher Prize 2019. I hope Peter’s story will encourage others to enter the teaching profession and shine a spotlight on the truly inspiring work teachers do to make tomorrow brighter than today,” said Sunny Varkey, founder of the Varkey Foundation. In an earlier interview with IPS Tabichi said if he won he would use the prize money strengthen the Talent Nurturing Club, the Science Club and inter-school science project competitions at the school. He also planned to “invest in a school computer lab with better internet connectivity.” And said that he would also promote kitchen gardening and production of drought tolerant crops in the community at large.<doc-sep>"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.<doc-sep>
Mr. Peter Mokaya Tabichi, a Kenyan teacher from Nakuru County, has won the 2019 Global Teacher Prize. Mr. Tabichi, a Mathematics and Physics teacher at Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Pwani Village, Nakuru was announced winner of the global prize on Sunday evening at a ceremony held in Dubai. The Varkey Foundation’s $1 million (Ksh.100 million) Global Teacher Prize honors one exceptional teacher every year. Mr. Tabichi, 36, was crowned the winner for dedicating his life to helping others. He gives 80% of his teaching salary to local community projects, including education, sustainable agriculture and peace-building. “He’s changed the lives of his students in many ways, including the introduction of science clubs and the promotion of peace between different ethnic groups and religions. He has also helped to address food insecurity among the wider community in the famine-prone Rift Valley,” said the Varkey Foundation. Mr. Tabichi, who becomes the first African and male teacher to win the global award, emerged winner out of 10 finalists who were among 10,000 applicants for the award. His win was announced on stage by movie star Hugh Jackman at the Global Education and Skills Forum. “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,” says the foundation. President Uhuru Kenyatta has congratulated Mr. Tabichi, saying he is “a shining example on what the human spirit can achieve.” “On behalf of all Kenyans let me congratulate you on winning the Global Teacher Prize for this year. You are a shining example on what the human spirit can achieve not just for Kenya, not just for Africa but the world. “Peter you chose to teach in a remote part of Kenya and transform lives in such situations. A choice that am sure was difficult. You give me faith that Africa’s best days are ahead of us and your story will light the way for all future generations,” said President Kenyatta on Sunday. For Citizen TV updates Join @citizentvke Telegram channel Video Of The Day: | SUCCESS AND AFTER | Tracking the progress made by students who topped KCSE in past years