Top teacher wins $1m prize and gives half away

Top teacher wins $1 million - and shares it - 14th December 2020

The Global Teacher Prize has announced Indian primary school teacher Ranjitsinh Disale as the winner of its annual, $1 million award. Mr Disale has since donated half of his winnings to other teachers on the shortlist.

Mr Disale, praised for educating disadvantaged girls in India, was named the world's most exceptional teacher ahead of 12,000 others.

A special ‘Covid Hero’ prize was also awarded this year. It was won by Jamie Frost, a UK teacher who set up a free maths tuition website.

Winning the prize, Mr Disale, who teaches at the Zilla Parishad Primary school in the village of Paritewadi, Maharashtra, preferred to share the million with the top 10 runners up. He reflected that, "in this hard time, teachers are giving their best to make sure every student has access to their birthright of a good education." This is the first time a winning teacher has split the prize with their peers.

The Global Teacher Prize recognises educators who make an outstanding contribution to the teaching profession. Teachers are nominated from all over the world for their work with children’s rights, helping migrants in the classroom and developing students' abilities and confidence.

Mr Disale earned the prize for his work with disadvantaged girls who frequently miss out on education and face early marriage. He has improved their attendance and helped them to achieve high results. He also teaches science online to pupils in 83 countries and heads an international project establishing connections between young people living in conflict zones.

Sunny Varkey established the Varkey Foundation, the organisation behind the prize. He welcomed Mr Disale's altruistic decision, saying, "by sharing the prize, you teach the world the importance of giving."