Great News: Indian Teacher Is Best In The World
Anukriti is a student who dabbles in writing when she finds time.
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By Anukriti Roy
First publised on 2020-12-04 09:23:54
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Anukriti is a student who dabbles in writing when she finds time.
View all posts by this Author
This news is going to gladden many hearts. Ranjitsinh Disale, a 32-year-old zilla parishad primary school teacher from Pairtewadi village in the Sholapur district of Maharashtra, became the first Indian to receive the Global Teacher Prize, instituted by the Varkey Foundation in partnership with Unesco, for his plans to support teacher innovation and to create a peace army of students. In his moment of glory, Disale was very humble and did not forget the contribution of ten other finalists (there were 12000 nominations/applications from 140 countries) for the prize. He said he would share 50% of the $1 million prize money with them (which he will get in 10 equal installments in the next ten years) so that they also get a chance to implement their ideas.
The Foundation said that Disale won the prize because "the impact of Ranjitsinh's interventions has been extraordinary: there are now no teenage marriages in the village and 100 percent attendance by girls at the school." Having displayed exemplary skills in bettering the society, Disale got the prize for his vision to bring innovative methods in teaching that would kindle interest among the students and his idea of forming a peace army by connecting students across the world with Indian students.
It is great that someone from India has won this award. Of late, teachers have been derided for bringing the profession into disrepute by teaching less in the classroom and angling for private tuitions or running teaching shops. Disale has proved that one can make a huge difference even in backwater villages by being proactive. It is not only teaching of the subject matter or asking children to learn by rote that is the end of the teacher's duty. A teacher needs to make children better citizens. Disale has proved that it can be done and huge funds are not needed for it. Personal intervention and good ideas are enough. The prize won by him also proves that good work does not go unrecognized.
