Nancie Atwell, from the
United States, has won N200
million ($1million) after she
was named the best teacher
in the world.
Ms Atwell, an English teacher
from Maine, was nominated
the best among 10 finalists in
the Global Teacher Prize
contest last Sunday in Dubia.
Ms Atwell, who is an
accomplished author (one of
her books, “In The Middle”,
sold over half a million
copies) was recognised for
her work in teaching reading
and writing.
Jacque Kahura from Kenya
was the only African among
the finalists.
While receiving the award,
Ms. Atwell said working as a
teacher to help young people
read and write was a
privilege.
On receiving the award she
announced that she was
donating the prize money to
a school she founded.
She said donating the money
to the school was “not being
selfless, but being committed
to public service”.
The beneficiary school, the
Center for Teaching and
Learning in Edgecomb,
Maine, was founded by Ms
Atwell in 1990, as a place
where ideas improving the
teaching of reading and
writing could be tested and
shared.
The school has a library in
every room and encourages
students to read about 40
books a year.
The award was created by the Varkey
Foundation and aimed at recognising
teachers as much as high paying careers
in sports and finance.
“We introduced the prize in order to
return teachers to their rightful position,
belonging to one of the most respected
professions in society,” said Sunny
Varkey, founder of the Varkey
Foundation.
He said the prize is “not only about
money, it’s also about unearthing
thousands of stories of inspiration”.
Former US president, Bill Clinton, who
was at the event, said the prize was
important as it would help to remind the
public of the importance of teachers.
He said it is “critically important” to
“attract the best people into teaching”
and to hold them in “high regard”.
Andreas Schleicher, Education Director
of the OECD said the prize will help to
underscore the value of teaching.
“Where teachers feel that society values
their job, outcomes can be a lot better,”
he said
The prize was supported by the world’s
richest person, Bill Gates, UK Prime
Minister, David Cameron, United Nations
Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, and
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, the vice-president and prime
minister of the United Arab Emirates
and ruler of Dubai.
The African Star
Ms Kahura, the only African in the top
ten, comes from a family of teachers and
showed interest in teaching from when
she was a child. She is the founder of
LIBA (Lifting the Barrier), which helps
young disadvantaged pupil learn in a
better environment.
Her novel approach to teaching involves
learning in small groups. It also involves
field trips that help to raise her pupils’
consciousness to the environment.
She also encourages her pupils to
undertake community services. Many of
her pupils outperform their peers in
traditional schools that rely heavily on
written tests.
Among the finalists is Stephen Ritz of
South Bronx in New York who developed
a project of growing food in the inner
city to provide students with the
nutrition to help them learn well.
There is also Phalla Neang from
Cambodia who helped to develop a
Braille version of the Khmer language so
that blind students can read. She also
works to prevent blind students from
being treated as outcasts by the
education system.

www.premiumtimesng.com/features-and-interviews/178593-worlds-best-teacher-wins-n200-million-prize-donates-money-to-school.html

If nah for naija the teacher qo kolet da money then resiqn..

Wow

This is highly inspiring and commendable!

Education is very important.

..