In a moment of international recognition for grassroots education, Indian teacher and artist Rouble Nagi has won the 2026 GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize, one of the most prestigious honours for educators worldwide. She received the US $1 million award at the World Government Summit in Dubai, where her innovative work reached global attention.
Her achievement stands as a powerful testament to how creative community-rooted educational models can transform the lives of children often left behind by traditional schooling.
Who is Rouble Nagi? Indian Teacher who Won USD 1 Million
Born on 8 July 1980 in Jammu & Kashmir, Nagi began her journey not as a mainstream classroom teacher but as an artist and social innovator. She trained in fine arts, specialising in sculpture, installations, and murals, and founded the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation, combining her artistic skills with a deep commitment to community upliftment.
Nagi’s work first drew public attention in Mumbai, where she used abandoned walls in slum areas to paint vibrant educational murals. Her approach did not merely beautify neighbourhoods, but it turned entire streets into “open-air classrooms” where children could learn literacy, mathematics, science, history, and environmental concepts simply by being present in their own communities.
Rouble Nagi Education Grounded in Real Needs
What sets Nagi apart is her focus on marginalised children, those who have never attended formal school or who dropped out due to economic hardship. Rather than waiting for systemic reform, she brought education directly into the community, creating accessible, welcoming learning spaces. These weren’t traditional classrooms, but interactive art-based learning hubs where children engaged with colourful murals that also served as teaching tools.
Through her foundation, Nagi has established more than 800 learning centres across India, reaching underserved populations in over 100 communities and villages. These centres provide basic literacy and numeracy education, remedial classes, and activities that build confidence and community engagement.
Rouble Nagi Global Recognition and the $1 Million Prize
The Global Teacher Prize, organised by the Varkey Foundation in collaboration with UNESCO, recognises exceptional educators from around the world. This year, Nagi beat out thousands of nominations from 139 countries to win the coveted award.
She accepted the award from His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, along with Sunny Varkey, founder of GEMS Education and the Varkey Foundation.
The jury praised her unique model that uses interactive public art as an educational medium, saying it brought learning to communities in a visually engaging and meaningful way.
What Rouble Nagi Plans to Do With the Prize
Nagi has said she will use the prize money to expand her programs, particularly focusing on skill-based and digital learning initiatives. She plans to launch new centres in Jammu and Kashmir, aiming to reach even more children who lack access to quality education.
Her model blends arts, community engagement, and education, proving that learning can happen anywhere, not just inside formal school walls.
Rouble Nagi: Inspiration for Educators and Communities
Rouble Nagi’s recognition on the global stage highlights how innovation in education doesn’t only come from conventional classrooms or formal institutions. Instead, it can emerge from creativity, commitment, and a deep understanding of community needs. Her work showcases how teachers can break barriers and make learning accessible to every child, no matter where they live.
As the world celebrates her achievement, Nagi’s story stands as a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of education when it is inclusive, adaptive, and rooted in real lives.
