For the first time, an Argentine teacher is a finalist of the Nobel Prize for Education

A professor of technical schools from the province of Buenos Aires has just been named one of the ten finalists of the

Global Teacher Prize (GTP),

considered the Nobel Prize for Education, which pays tribute to the work of teachers around the world and rewards the winner of a million dollars.

It's about Martín Salvetti,

Professor at the School of Technical Education N5 "April 2" in Temperley, province of Buenos Aires. This is the first time that an Argentine teacher qualifies for the GTP finals, which is in its fifth edition this year.

Salvetti was a finalist among 10,000 candidates from 179 countries, after overcoming a semifinal in which 50 teachers from 39 different countries were selected, including another Argentinian, Maria Cristina Gómez, professor of history. from Santa Fe. He reached the final. The GTP is delivered by the Varkey Foundation, based in London, and created by the Indian businessman Sunny Varkey.

The names of the finalists were announced by the famous actor

Hugh Jackman

in a video that highlights the unprecedented contribution of teachers to the world.

"When I was a kid, I wanted to be a lot of superheroes, but I can tell you right now, with the experience of my background, that the real superheroes are the masters, they are the ones who are changing the world, "said Jackman, who referred to his teacher. "We all live in insecurity, doubt and turmoil in this journey of life, and those teachers who see the best of us and are patient enough to allow us to grow, are worth the money. Gold, "he said. actor

In previous GTP editions, five Argentinian teachers – Silvina Corso, Inés Bulacio and Graciana Goicoechandia, Germany's Soto and Silvana Carnicero – qualified for the semi-finals.

Teaching, motors and journalism

"Children are bored and take a lot of subjects, we have to change the design of the program, which has a very backward content in technical schools, we have to offer more dynamism, more arrival to children, Get to know them … Master clbades do not go any further, "Salvetti told LANACION last year when news of his progress toward the semifinal of the award was known.

The teacher is responsible for the automotive sector and adult vocational training at Temperley Technical School, where he also completed high school between 1984 and 1992.

Salvetti, 45, has been teaching since the age of 21, when he started his career in 1994. He started as a tutor and after graduating as a car technician. He attended a teacher training at the Brandsen Training Institute, then studied journalism at the Araujo and Niembro Schools.

In Temperley's "English Quarter", as described by Salvetti, at Ténica Escuela 2 de Abril, where he was able to show his two pbadions, motor and journalism, 95% of the students are not from the region. Most of the time, it takes one hour to get to the school, which includes eight divisions of forty students and students from 120 different elementary schools.

There are a total of 1500 students, including only 50 women, and a teaching team of 700 teachers. They receive technicians in automobile, electronics or electromechanics.

"It's a highly sought-after school because of its level in mechanics," explained Salvetti, professor of internal combustion engines, materials knowledge and technical drawing.

During the 2001 crisis, Salvetti also created a radio workshop. And since 2016, participates with other teachers of the project "A car for a horse" in badociation with the municipality of Lomas de Zamora, in which students work on motorcycles seized to turn them into "motorbikes" that are delivered in the form of loans to local workers on the condition that they deliver the horses who pushed their cars. "It's a way to fight blood traction, the municipality covers insurance and fuel for the driver," Salvetti said. In 2017, their seventh students won the National Olympic Games of electronics.

Regarding Salvetti's achievements, the Varkey Foundation emphasized: "Recycling plays an important role in the work of its students, who are also studying the internal workings, mechanics and science of combustion engines." Practice in competition engines and visit workshops, while expanding his knowledge of technological advances such as the development of robotic, solar and electric vehicles, the night shift for people who, most of the time, do not have work. "

The winner of the 2018 edition of the GTP will be announced at the Global Education & Skills Forum in Dubai on Sunday, March 24, 2019, where the finalists will travel.

The other finalists

The other nine finalists of the Global Teacher Prize 2019 are:

• Vladimer Apkhazava, professor of civic education at "Chibati Public School", Tbilisi, Georgia;
• Debora Garofalo, Professor of Learning Technologies at EMEF Almirante Ary Parreiras, São Paulo, Brazil
• Daisy Mertens, teacher at De Vuurvogel Community School, Helmond, The Netherlands;
• Andrew Moffat MBE, Professor of Personal, Social and Health Development at Parkfield Community School, Birmingham, West Midlands, UK;
• Swaroop Rawal, teacher at Lavad Elementary School, Gujarat, India;
• Melissa Salguero, music teacher at the elementary school, P.S.48. Joseph R. Drake, Bronx, New York, USA;
• Yasodai Selvakumaran, professor of history, society and culture at Rooty Hill High School in New South Wales, Australia;
• Hidekazu Shoto, professor of English and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) at Ritsumeikan Primary School, Kyoto, Japan;
• Peter Tabichi, Professor of Physics and Mathematics at Pwani Village Secondary School, Nakuru, Kenya