World's Best Teacher: Peter Tabichi, the teacher who pays most of the salary to his poorest students and who has been awarded the "Nobel Prize for Education"

A science teacher from a rural area of ​​Kenya who pays most of his salary to help the poorest students was chosen Sunday as the best teacher in the world.

Peter Tabichi won the World Teachers' Prize (the "Nobel Prize in Education") of 2019 endowed with a million dollars.

Among the ten finalists, there were also Latin American representatives: Argentine Martín Salvetti, Brazilian Débora Garofalo and Cuban-American Melissa Salguero.

In addition to teacher, Tabichi is a Franciscan monk or member of the Catholic religious order founded by St. Francis of Assisi in the thirteenth century.

Tabichi was commended for his achievements in a resource-limited school, with overcrowded clbades and few textbooks.

He gives 80% of his salary to support students at Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in the village of Pwani, Nakuru, in a remote part of the Rift Valley in southwestern Kenya, which would not otherwise not able to pay his salary. uniforms or books.

The teacher wants students to see that "science is the way to go" for their future.

The award, announced at a ceremony in Dubai, recognized the "outstanding" commitment of the teacher to the students.

Improve science

"It is not just money," says Tabichi, whose students are almost all from very disadvantaged families.

Many are orphans or have lost their father or mother.

This 36-year-old teacher wants to raise the level of aspirations of his students and promote the cause of science, not only in Kenya, but throughout Africa.

After receiving the award, Tabichi highlighted the potential of the young African population.

"As a teacher in clbadrooms, I saw the promises of their young people: their curiosity, their talent, their intelligence, their convictions," he said.

"Young Africans will no longer be held back by low expectations, Africa will produce scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, whose names will one day be famous around the world, and girls will play an important role in this story ", did he declare.

The Varkey Foundation, which awards the prize, has chosen from among 10,000 nominated professors from 179 countries.

gaps

Brother Peter said the lack of facilities in his school involved "problems, including a shortage of books or teachers.

Clbades designed for 35 to 40 students are taught in groups of 70 or 80, which he says means overcrowded clbadrooms and problems for teachers.

The lack of reliable internet connection requires them to visit an internet cafe to download resources for their science clbades.

Many students walk more than 6 km on trails to get to school.

But Tabichi says he's determined to give them the opportunity to learn about science and raise their horizons.

His students have been successful in national and international science competitions. They even won an award from the Royal Academy of Chemistry of the United Kingdom.

The judges stated that their work at school had "significantly improved the results of their students" and that many others were now in the university even though the resources of these schools were "very limited ".

State of Education

Brother Peter says that one of his challenges has been to visit families whose children run the risk of leaving school to convince them and recognize the value of education.

It also tries to change the state of mind of families who expect their daughters to get married early, so that they stay in school.

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Tabichi said the price was an upbeat signal.

"The sunrise in Africa, the sky is clear, the day is young and there is a blank page to write in. It is the time of Africa", has it he declares.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta congratulated Tabichi.

Peter: his story is the story of Africa, a young continent full of talent, his students showed that they could compete with the best scientists, technologies and all areas of the world. 39, human effort, "said the president.

The competition aims to elevate the status of the teaching profession.

The winner of 2018 was an art teacher from North London, Andria Zafirakou.

The award's founder, Sunny Varkey, hopes that the story of Tabichi "inspires those who are looking to enter the clbadroom and focuses on the incredible work being done every day by teachers in Kenya and around the world" .

"The thousands of applications and applications we receive from around the world reflect the achievements of teachers and their enormous impact on our lives," he said.