From Dharavi’s Walls to the World Stage: Rouble Nagi Wins Global Teacher Prize in Dubai

February 18, 2026:

At the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Indian educator Rouble Nagi received one of the world’s most prestigious honours in education — the Global Teacher Prize. The recognition places her among the most influential educators of the modern era. Yet her work began far from global platforms — in the dense and vibrant communities of urban India, where she first redefined access to education.

Education at the Heart of the Community

For Nagi, education has never been confined to classrooms. She observed that thousands of children living in informal settlements were excluded from structured schooling — not because of a lack of ability, but due to poverty, migration, fragile infrastructure and social vulnerability.

In Dharavi, where space is scarce and survival takes precedence, traditional schooling often remains out of reach. Rather than wait for institutional reform, Nagi took learning directly into the community.

She transformed neglected walls into vivid educational canvases. Alphabets, numbers, environmental themes, scientific ideas and social messages appeared in bold murals that doubled as interactive teaching tools. These public artworks did more than brighten streets; they invited children to gather, observe and participate. Learning became visible, accessible and rooted in everyday life.

A Vision Without Barriers

Nagi expanded this model through the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation, building a nationwide network of community-based learning centres. These centres support children who have never attended school, offer remedial classes to those at risk of dropping out and provide creative platforms that nurture both confidence and academic skills.

Flexibility defines her approach. Recognising that many children balance domestic responsibilities and informal work, her programmes adapt to local realities. Lessons incorporate recycled materials, art-based learning and participatory methods that encourage children to take ownership of their education.

By embedding education within community rhythms, she has helped sustain engagement among children who might otherwise remain excluded.

Education as Empowerment

Nagi’s work extends beyond literacy and numeracy. Her initiatives promote dignity, self-expression and social awareness, equipping children to imagine broader possibilities for their future. Parents, local volunteers and young people help create and maintain learning spaces, reinforcing education as a shared responsibility.

The results are tangible. Many children have transitioned into formal schooling, while others have moved towards vocational pathways supported by training initiatives linked to her programmes.

Global Recognition, Local Roots

Administered by the Varkey Foundation, the Global Teacher Prize honours educators who demonstrate exceptional commitment to equity and innovation. Selected from thousands of nominations worldwide, Nagi’s award acknowledges both the scale and philosophy of her work.

Accepting the honour, she credited the communities she serves and described the prize not as a culmination, but as a catalyst. Plans are now underway to expand vocational and digital skills initiatives, ensuring that education connects directly to sustainable livelihoods.

From the bylanes of Dharavi to the global stage in Dubai, Nagi’s journey highlights how inclusive, community-driven learning can shape the future — proving that transformative change often begins where opportunity is scarce, but aspiration endures.

From Dharavi’s Walls to the World Stage: Rouble Nagi Wins Global Teacher Prize in Dubai

Latest News