Kenyan wins prestigious Sh100m Global Teacher Prize

A Kenyan teacher on Sunday made history by becoming the first African and male to win the prestigious Global Teachers Prize at a ceremony held in Dubai.

Peter Tabichi, who teaches Mathematics and Physics at Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Nakuru county, beat nine other contestants to take home the grand prize of $1 million (Sh100,000,000).

The Global Teacher Prize honours one exceptional teacher every year who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession as well as to shine a spotlight on the important role teachers play in the society.

The Varkey Foundation’s competition had attracted over 10,000 applicants from 179 countries around the world.

The 36-year-old Egerton University graduate has been a teacher for 12 years. He gives away 80 per cent of his monthly income to help the poor. 

Peter integrates ICT into 80 per cent of his lessons, along with science quizzes, low-cost apparatus and fosters collaboration by incorporating peer-to-peer learning.

When applying for the competition last year, Tabichi said he was just trying his luck.