A science teacher from rural Kenya, who gives away most of his salary to support poorer pupils, has won a $1m prize (£760,000) for the world’s best teacher.
Peter Tabichi, a member of the Franciscan religious order, won the 2019 Global Teacher Prize.
Brother Peter has been praised for his achievements in a deprived school with crowded classes and few text books.
He wants pupils to see “science is the way to go” for their futures.
The award, announced in a ceremony in Dubai, recognises the “exceptional” teacher’s commitment to pupils in a remote part of Kenya’s Rift Valley.
He gives away 80% of his pay to support pupils, at the Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Pwani Village, Nakuru, who otherwise could not afford uniforms or books.
“It’s not all about money,” says Brother Peter, whose pupils are almost all from very disadvantaged families. Many are orphaned or have lost a parent.
He wants to raise aspirations and to promote the cause of science, not just in Kenya but across Africa, he says.
