Rouble Nagi recognised for transforming education for marginalised children across India using art and community learning centres.
An Indian educator and artist has been awarded the $1 million Global Teacher Prize for her innovative work in bringing education to children in India’s slums and villages, many of whom had never set foot in a formal classroom.
Rouble Nagi, founder of the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation (RNAF), received the prestigious award at the World Governments Summit in Dubai earlier this year. The prize, now in its tenth edition and organised by the Varkey Foundation in collaboration with UNESCO, honours exceptional contributions to the teaching profession.
Nagi was presented with the trophy by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. She was selected from more than 5,000 nominations and applications submitted from 139 countries.
Transforming Slum Walls into Classrooms:
For over two decades, Nagi has transformed slum walls into interactive educational murals covering literacy, numeracy, hygiene, and environmental awareness, turning public spaces into open-air classrooms in underserved communities.
Through her foundation, she has established 800+ learning centres across 100+ slums and villages in India, providing structured education for children who lack access to traditional schooling and support for those already enrolled. Her efforts have helped bring over one million children into formal education by addressing barriers such as poverty, child labour, early marriage, and limited access to schools.
Based in Mumbai and originally from Jammu and Kashmir, Nagi blends her background as an artist and social science teacher to use murals as tools for awareness and community empowerment.
Indian Teacher Nagi Wins Global Teacher Prize, Plans to Expand Education Access:
Speaking after receiving the award, Nagi described the honour as belonging to her country and its children.
“Firstly, it’s such a big honour, and this is not my honour, it’s honour of my country, India,” she said. “I humbly accepted on behalf of the entire nation… Every child in India in school, yes.”
She has expressed hopes of using part of the prize to realise long-held dreams, including starting a school in Kashmir.
The Global Teacher Prize recognises teachers who make outstanding contributions, often in challenging circumstances. Previous winners have come from various countries, but Nagi is noted as the first Indian woman to receive the award.
Her approach highlights how creativity and local innovation can tackle deep-rooted educational inequalities in one of the world’s most populous nations, where millions of children in urban slums and rural areas still face exclusion from quality learning opportunities.
Grassroots Education Model Driving Long-Term Impact:
Nagi’s model has not only provided immediate access to education but also aimed at long-term social change. Many of the children who began their learning journey in her centres have gone on to complete formal schooling, with some becoming graduates, professionals or even artists themselves.
As India continues to grapple with educational disparities despite significant progress in enrolment rates, stories like Nagi’s underscore the role of grassroots initiatives in bridging gaps for the most vulnerable.
The $1 million prize is expected to help scale her foundation’s efforts further, potentially expanding learning centres and mural projects to reach even more children across the country.
Nagi’s recognition comes at a time when global attention is increasingly focused on innovative solutions to achieve inclusive and equitable quality education, as outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals.