An Indian teacher who transformed slum spaces into open-air classrooms has won a $1 million global education prize, according to the BBC.
Rouble Nagi, a 45-year-old artist and founder of the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation, was named winner of the Global Teacher Prize 2026. The award, launched by the Varkey Foundation in partnership with UNESCO, recognises exceptional contributions to the teaching profession.
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She was selected from more than 5,000 nominations and applications across 139 countries, the prize organisers said.
The BBC reports that through her non-profit organisation, Nagi has established more than 800 learning centres across India in over 100 underserved communities and villages, bringing basic education to children who might otherwise miss out on schooling.
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Her work began nearly three decades ago after a young boy walked into one of her art workshops in Mumbai and told her he could not afford school because he lived in a slum. The encounter moved her to visit his community.
She began by painting murals on the walls to brighten the area. Soon, children gathered around her.
“Children began to gather where we were painting. So I asked them if they would like to hear a story. They all said yes,” Nagi told the BBC.
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She said that was the moment she realised children in poor communities were eager to learn and that art could be used to spark their interest in education.
One of her centres operates in Colaba, an upmarket district of Mumbai. A narrow lane opens onto a cluster of small concrete cubicles used by washermen to clean and dry clothes. Around them are tightly packed homes painted in bright colours. Within this maze, a small classroom offers free lessons in maths and language skills.
Not all the centres are formal buildings. In some areas, classes are held outdoors with children seated on mats. Teachers use drawings and storytelling to explain concepts.
“Learning can happen anywhere. You just have to make it interesting,” she said.
Running the centres comes with challenges. Many children come from difficult family backgrounds, and teachers often act as counsellors. If a child is absent for a week, a volunteer visits the home to check on them. Nagi also holds regular sessions with parents to keep them engaged in their children’s progress.
According to the BBC, some former students have gone on to complete school and pursue higher education. One now runs art classes and a small printing business and volunteers at weekends to support other children.
With the prize money, Nagi plans to expand her work, beginning in Jammu and Kashmir, where she grew up. She hopes to establish a centre equipped with computers and skills training facilities
