For over a decade, Rouble Nagi has been transforming the walls of India's slums into vibrant outdoor classrooms. Last week, her groundbreaking work earned her the world's largest teaching prize—$1 million—and recognition on the global stage.

On Thursday at Dubai's World Governments Summit, Nagi was awarded the prestigious Global Teacher Prize 2026, an initiative by the Varkey Foundation and UNESCO that honors educators whose work has reshaped learning outcomes and communities.

Art as Education: Turning Walls Into Classrooms

Nagi's approach is unlike anything in traditional education. Through the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation, she has established over 800 learning centers across India—not in buildings, but on the streets and walls of slum communities where children have never attended school.

Using bold colors, symbols, and stories, Nagi paints educational murals that teach language, mathematics, science, and history. Neglected spaces in settlements become open-air classrooms where children gather to learn—many for the first time in their lives.

"Inequality is not destiny. Education delivered with dignity can bridge the gap between exclusion and opportunity." — Rouble Nagi

What started as a small, hands-on effort among families living in fragile conditions has now expanded to villages and urban centers across India. Her foundation focuses on foundational literacy, numeracy, and basic conceptual understanding for children who've been left behind by formal schooling.

More Than Just Learning: Building Confidence and Hope

For Nagi, art isn't just a teaching tool—it's a way to instill confidence, heal trauma, and allow self-expression. In communities where children face daily struggles, her murals offer more than lessons; they offer dignity.

"Recognition of work rooted in education, compassion, consistency, and service has strengthened my resolve to continue working with children on the margins," Nagi said upon accepting the award.

Inspired by the legacy of Savitribai Phule, India's pioneering 19th-century educator and social reformer, Nagi has remained committed to education without discrimination.

Empowering Women Through Skill Centers

Beyond her work with children, Nagi's Misaal India initiative has also set up skill development centers for women in underserved communities. These centers help women achieve financial independence and emerge as entrepreneurs—breaking cycles of poverty and empowering entire families.

Global Recognition for Local Impact

Now in its tenth year, the Global Teacher Prize celebrates educators who make extraordinary contributions to the profession. Past winners have included teachers from Kenya, the UK, Canada, and Brazil—all united by a commitment to transforming education in challenging circumstances.

Sunny Varkey, founder of the Global Teacher Prize and GEMS Education, said Nagi represented "the very best of what teaching can be—courage, creativity, and compassion."

Francis Joseph, CEO of GEMS Education, noted that Nagi's influence extended "beyond conventional classrooms," while UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Education Stefania Giannini said the award reaffirmed a "simple truth: teachers matter."

What's Next for Rouble Nagi?

With the $1 million prize, Nagi plans to expand the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation's reach even further—creating more learning centers, training more teachers, and bringing education to even more children who have never seen the inside of a classroom.

Her work is a powerful reminder that education doesn't require four walls and a chalkboard. Sometimes, all it takes is a paintbrush, a wall, and someone who believes every child deserves a chance to learn.