Indian teacher and social activist Rouble Nagi has been awarded the prestigious $1 million Global Teacher Prize 2026 for her innovative approach to education, particularly for children who have never attended school. The award, an initiative of the Varkey Foundation in collaboration with UNESCO, was presented at the World Governments Summit in Dubai.
Nagi's work focuses on transforming slums across India into vibrant learning spaces through educational murals and learning centers. Over the past two decades, she has established more than 800 learning centers in over 100 underserved communities in India through her Rouble Nagi Art Foundation (RNAF). These centers offer structured learning to children who have never been to school and provide remedial education and creative enrichment for those already in the formal education system.
A key element of Nagi's approach is the "Living Walls of Learning," interactive murals painted on abandoned walls. These murals teach literacy, numeracy, science, hygiene, history, environmental awareness, and social responsibility. Far from being mere decorations, they turn neighborhoods into active learning environments, engaging children, parents, and the wider community. These open-air classrooms use color, symbols, and stories to impart lessons, making learning accessible and engaging.
Nagi travels across India, working directly with children in the learning centers and mentoring the teachers who run them. To date, she has recruited and trained more than 600 educators, both volunteer and paid. Her approach is tailored to the academic level, social background, and economic circumstances of the children she teaches. Many of her classrooms operate in challenging environments, where children face poverty, child labor, early marriage, and a lack of basic facilities. Nagi addresses these challenges by offering flexible schedules for working children, practical lessons using recycled materials, and skill-based lessons that families find useful.
Accepting the award, Nagi expressed that the recognition of her work, rooted in "education, compassion, consistency and service," has strengthened her resolve to continue working with marginalized children. She stated that the prize was an honor for herself and for India. Nagi began her journey 24 years ago with 30 children in a small workshop and now reaches over a million children. "I think every step has just motivated me, inspired me to take every child in India to school," Nagi said. "You know when I was a child it was my dream to see every child at school and as you grow up fulfilling that for as many as we can reach, I think it's a very humbling experience".
Nagi plans to use the $1 million prize to build an institute that will offer free vocational training to students.
Sunny Varkey, the founder of the Varkey Foundation, praised Nagi's embodiment of "courage, creativity, compassion, and an unwavering belief in every child's potential". He noted that by bringing education to the most marginalized communities, she has not only changed individual lives but also strengthened families and communities. Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, said the award was a reminder that teachers matter and commended Nagi's belief in every learner.
Nagi is the tenth recipient of the Global Teacher Prize, which was launched in 2015. Previous winners include a teacher from Kenya who donated most of his salary to help poor students, a Palestinian teacher who promoted non-violence in classrooms, and a Canadian educator who taught students in a remote Arctic village. Last year's winner was Saudi educator Mansour al-Mansour, recognized for his work with disadvantaged communities.