A science teacher from a remote community in Kenya, Peter Tabichi, has won a $1 million prize for the world’s best teacher.
The Global Teacher Prize was presented to him in a ceremony in Dubai.
Brother Peter, as he is called for belonging to the Franciscan religious order, has been praised for his achievements in a deprived school with crowded classes and few text books.
The 36-year-old teacher gives 80% of his salary to support pupils at Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Pwani Village, Nakuru.
Almost all of his students are from poor homes; many have lost a parent or both.
He has had to travel miles to cyber cafes just to download resources from the internet as there is no internet connection in the village.
“As a teacher working on the front line I have seen the promise of its young people – their curiosity, talent, their intelligence, their belief.
“Africa’s young people will no longer be held back by low expectations. Africa will produce scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs whose names will be one day famous in every corner of the world. And girls will be a huge part of this story,” he said on receiving the award.
The friar’s pupils have won several national and international science competitions, including an award from the Royal Society of Chemistry in the UK.
Peter beat 10,000 other potential winners from 179 countries to the award.
“It’s morning in Africa. The skies are clear. The day is young and there is a blank page waiting to be written. This is Africa’s time,” Peter said.
Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta, has congratulated him.
