The teacher who won $1m for turning India's slums into open-air classrooms

BBC News - WorldEN 4 min read 100% complete February 19, 2026 at 03:44 AM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

Rouble Nagi, a 45-year-old artist, won the Global Teacher Prize 2026, a $1 million award recognizing exceptional contributions to education. Nagi was selected from 5,000 nominations for establishing over 800 learning centers across India in over 100 underserved communities through her non-profit, the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation (RNAF). Inspired by a young boy who couldn't afford school, Nagi began by painting murals in Mumbai slums, attracting children who were eager to learn. Her foundation now provides free lessons in basic math and language skills, helping children in marginalized communities access education. These learning centers, often located within the communities they serve, aim to provide opportunities for children to begin or return to formal schooling.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Unesco 40% Varkey Foundation 50% Colaba ×260% Global Teacher Prize 70% Rouble Nagi ×480% India ×390%

Keywords

education 100% rouble nagi 90% slums 80% global teacher prize 80% open-air classrooms 70% india 70% learning centers 60% marginalised communities 60% art 50% non-profit 50%