Inspiring Nigerian Teachers invited to apply for Global Teacher prize

“Inspiring” Nigerian teachers are urged to apply for the ninth Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize, organized in collaboration with UNESCO and in partnership with GEMS Education.

The $1 million award is the biggest prize of its kind.

Sister Zeph, the winner of the last edition of the Global Teacher Prize, encouraged “inspiring” Nigerian teachers to apply for the prize.

She founded her school for underprivileged children in the courtyard of her home at just 13.

Sister Zeph received her trophy during a ceremony at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris.

Sister Zeph, the most recent winner of the Global Teacher Prize, said:

“Throughout Nigeria, inspiring teachers have dedicated their lives to empowering their students and helping them reach their full potential. This is a monumental task, and it is why teachers will always matter.

“I encourage them to apply for the Global Teacher Prize and urge parents and pupils to nominate the incredible educators who have made such a difference in the lives of so many. Their stories deserve to be told, and the world should know about all their achievements.”

Chief Education Officer at GEMS Education, Lisa Crausby, said: “At GEMS Education, we see first-hand the transformative impact that teachers have on the lives of young people worldwide. Every day, they inspire, uplift, and nurture the minds of future generations. We are deeply honored to partner with the Global Teacher Prize, a remarkable initiative that recognizes the dedication, passion, and resilience of teachers everywhere who are working tirelessly to build a brighter, more hopeful world.”

Founder of the Global Teacher Prize and Chairman of the Varkey Foundation, Sunny Varkey; “The Global Teacher Prize was created to spotlight the critical role of education in addressing the major challenges of our time – from combating climate change to reducing inequality and navigating technological change. I encourage all inspiring teachers in Nigeria to step forward and apply for this year’s prize, joining a global community of educators leading the way to build a better future.”

UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, Stefania Giannini, said: “UNESCO is proud to support the Global Teacher Prize, which honors the dedication and impact of teachers worldwide. In a time of global teacher shortages, challenging conditions, and technological advances, recognizing and investing in teachers is essential to building a just, inclusive, and sustainable future. Teachers matter as they shape not only the next generation but the future of our societies.”

Nigeria has an incredible track record when it comes to the Global Teacher Prize.

An ICT teacher at Akoka Junior High School in Lagos, Peace Sule, and a physics teacher at Iju Senior Grammar School in Lagos, Stephanie Akinwoya, were included in the top 50 shortlist for the Global Teacher Prize 2023. In 2021, another two Nigerian teachers made the top 50: Adeola Adefemi, an English teacher at Oke-Odo Senior High School in Alimosho, Lagos, and Olusegun Adeniyi, an art teacher at Caleb British International School, Lagos. In 2020, Olasunkanmi Opeifa, an English teacher at the Government Day Secondary School Karu in Abuja, was among the top 10 finalists.

A Mathematics and Computer Science teacher at Jakande Comprehensive Senior College, Ipaja, Lagos, Soji Megbowon, made the top 50 shortlist for the prize in 2019.

A STEM education and global studies teacher at Abeokuta Grammar School, Ogun, Ayodele Odeogbola, and teaching chemistry, math, and physics at Gateway Excel College, Ogeneago Otukpa, Benue State, Itodo Anthony, were top 50 shortlisted for the Global Teacher Prize 2018.

GEMS Education is the largest K-12 operator of private education in the world, which owns, operates, and manages schools globally, reaching an international student audience of over 130,000.

It offers four world-class curricula and has 400,000 alumni. It believes in delivering a consistent, dynamic, high-quality education for every child – something in which teachers play a vital role.

The prize is open to working teachers who teach children who are in compulsory schooling or are between the ages of five and eighteen.

Teachers who teach children age 4+ in an Early Years government-recognised curriculum are also eligible, as are teachers who teach on a part-time basis, and teachers of online courses. Teachers must spend at least 10 hours per week teaching and plan to remain in the profession for the next five years. It is open to teachers in every kind of school and subject to local laws in every country in the world.

Teachers applying for the Global Teacher Prize will be assessed on teaching practices, how they innovate to address local challenges, achieve demonstrable learning outcomes, impact the community beyond the classroom, help children become global citizens, improve the teaching profession, and gain recognition from external bodies.

Interested teachers can apply for the Global Teacher Prize at www.globalteacherprize.org and the closing date for applications is 9 December 2024.

The prize will be narrowed down to a Top 50 shortlist and Top 10 finalists, to be announced next year, helping to raise the bar of respect for the teaching profession. The winner will be chosen from the top 10 finalists by the Global Teacher Prize Academy, made up of prominent individuals, and will be announced in 2025.

If teachers are being nominated, the person nominating them will write a brief description online explaining why. The teacher being nominated will then be sent an email letting them know they have been nominated and inviting them to apply for the prize.

Applicants can apply in English, Mandarin, Arabic, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.