New Delhi: Indian educator and artist Rouble Nagi on Thursday won the USD1 million GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize 2026.
Rouble earned the honour for her unique use of art to educate children in underserved communities. She turns broken and neglected walls into large, interactive murals. These murals teach literacy, numeracy, hygiene, environmental awareness, and social values.
She was selected from more than 5,000 nominations from 139 countries. Organisers announced the winner at a ceremony held during the World Governments Summit in Dubai, according to the globalteacherprize.org.
Rouble plans to use the prize money to set up a Skilling Institute. The institute will offer free vocational and digital literacy training. The goal is to improve life opportunities for millions of marginalised children and young people.
Over the last two decades, Rouble has helped more than one million children enter formal education. She uses art as a bridge to bring out-of-school children back into learning.
Through the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation, she has established more than 800 learning centres across India. These centres operate in more than 100 slums and villages. They provide safe and inspiring spaces for children who have never attended school. The centres also support school-going children with remedial education, emotional care, and creative learning.
Her work revolves around the idea of “Living Walls of Learning.” She converts abandoned walls into open-air classrooms. The murals teach subjects such as science, history, hygiene, and environmental responsibility. They also involve parents and local communities in the learning process.
Rouble travels across the country to work directly with children. She also mentors teachers at the learning centres. She has trained over 600 educators, both volunteers and professionals. The model adapts to children’s academic, social, and economic needs.
The award is an initiative of the Varkey Foundation and is organised in collaboration with UNESCO. The Global Teacher Prize has now completed 10 years and remains the world’s largest award for teachers.
