"Top 50" Teachers in the World - Shortlisted

The shortlist of 50 teachers who are competing for the mantle of ‘The World’s Best Teacher’ and a prize of $1million has been announced by the Varkey GEMS Foundation.

The shortlist comprises teachers from 26 countries around the world including Afghanistan, China, Kenya, Germany, Uganda as well as the United Kingdom and the United States. Three teachers from India made the list which was whittled down from 5,000 nominations across 127 countries.

There are no teachers from the UAE on the list.

The ‘Top Ten’ will be announced in February and the winner will be presented with their sizeable cheque at an event taking place in March. The largest number of nominees from one country - 16 in total - are based in the United States.

The aim of the Global Teacher Prize is ‘to raise the status of teaching’ and the judging panel includes a wide array of individuals from a variety of walks of life including President Bill Clinton and the actor Kevin Spacey.

Sunny Varkey, founder of the Varkey GEMS Foundation, said: "My hope is that it's the start of a million conversations about the role of teachers - from families around the dinner table and teenagers on social media to education ministries around the world."

Applicants are judged on how they open up their pupil's minds, how much they contribute to the community, and how much they encourage others to become teachers.

Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey who is one of the judges said: "When I was starting out, I was inspired by an older, more experienced actor, who told me that he thought I ought to go into acting professionally. That's the kind of mentoring and personal support that every young person needs to realise their potential.

"It's the kind of encouragement and guidance that good teachers give to their pupils every day. And that is why I support the Varkey GEMS Foundation's Global Teacher Prize."