BENGALURU:Santhi Karamcheti from EDventure Academy, HSR Layout, Bengaluru, is among four Indian teachers shortlisted for a $1 million annual prize, dubbed the ‘Nobel Prize for Teaching’, for their outstanding contribution to the profession. The four are among 50 teachers shortlisted for the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2016, set up to recognise one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession.
Shanti, founder of the academy, expressed happiness at being shortlisted for the award. “I was nominated by my students and their parents. Then I had completed the procedure by filling the form sent. I am extremely happy and hope that I will be one among the 10 finalists,” said Shanti.
EDventure Academy is a Special Education and Remedial Centre founded with a vision to provide equal opportunity to all children. They offer two models of programmes. One is the Morning School Programme for children who are rejected admissions in mainstream schools. Currently children with autism, intellectual disability, Down Syndrome, Global Learning Disability, etc are benefiting from this model. The other is Evening Remedial Programme for children, who attend regular schools and need support in specific areas.
Kerala-born entrepreneur Sunny Varkey, founder of the Dubai-based Varkey GEMS Foundation, launched the prize at the Global Education and Skills Forum 2014.
The other teachers from India, two from Mumbai and one from Delhi, were selected from nearly 8,000 nominations from 148 countries for the Varkey GEMS Foundation Global Teacher Prize. The teachers include Robin Chaurasiya, founder of Kranti - a non-profit which empowers marginalised girls from Mumbai’s red-light areas, Dhaval Bathia from Genesis Education in Mumbai and Rashmi Kathuria from Kulachi Hansraj Model School in Delhi.
“The thousands of nominations and applications we received from every corner of the planet is testimony to the achievements of teachers and the enormous impact they have on all of our lives,” said Sunny.
The top 50 teachers have now been judged by a Prize Committee and 10 finalists will be announced in February 2016. The finalists will be invited to Dubai for the award ceremony at the Global Education and Skills Forum (GESF) in March next year.