Dubai: An internationally acclaimed Indian educator, artist, and social innovator, Rouble Nagi, has been announced as the winner of the prestigious US $1 million GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize. The award was presented by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the World Government Summit.

Rouble Nagi was selected from more than 5,000 nominations and applications representing 139 countries. The announcement was made on the final day of the summit, and the award was handed over in the presence of Sunny Varkey, Founder of GEMS Education, and representatives of the Varkey Foundation.

Visibly emotional after receiving the honour, Rouble described the moment as a dream come true. She said the award recognised her 24 years of consistent work in teaching children from slums and marginalised communities across India. “My only aim was that education for children should not stop midway. It has always been my dream to see every child in India in school,” she said.

An accomplished artist, Rouble developed the Misaal India programme, which provides low-cost, art-based education to more than one million children across over 100 slums and villages. The initiative integrates literacy, numeracy, life skills, and vocational training through creative projects that actively involve children and their communities.

She also founded Misaal Mumbai, India’s first large-scale slum transformation project, which has painted over 155,000 houses while improving sanitation, waterproofing, and conducting hygiene awareness workshops.

Now in its 10th year, the Global Teacher Prize is the world’s largest award dedicated to a single educator. The prize was established by the Varkey Foundation in collaboration with UNESCO and has received more than 100,000 nominations since its inception.

Earlier, Sharjah-based teacher Hala Shahin was named among the top 50 finalists for her innovative work in incorporating smart learning and artificial intelligence into education.

Rouble praised the initiative, stating that teachers matter more than ever in inspiring and motivating children to learn. During the ceremony, a video featured past winners sharing how the award transformed their lives and amplified their voices. Pakistani teacher Sister Zeph, a previous winner, said the recognition helped ensure her work with underprivileged children received global attention.

The Global Teacher Prize continues to highlight the vital role educators play in shaping societies and empowering future generations.