Kenyan wins $1 million teacher prize

A mathematics and physics teacher from Kenya has won the $1 million (£756,000) Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize.

The awards ceremony in Dubai was hosted by Hollywood star Hugh Jackman, who performed songs from his film The Greatest Showman.

He announced Peter Tabichi, a teacher at Keriko Secondary School in Nakuru, as winner.

The nine other finalists, including Britain’s Andrew Moffat, from Parkfield Community School in Birmingham, rushed on to the stage to embrace and congratulate the winner.

Mr Tabichi said: “Every day in Africa, we turn a new page and a new chapter. Today is another day. This prize does not recognise me but recognises this great continent’s young people.

“I am only here because of what my students have achieved. This prize gives them a chance. It tells the world that they can do anything.”

Part of the ceremony, which was attended by the Earl of Wessex, included a video message from Andrew Lloyd Webber, who paid tribute to teachers all over the world and emphasised the importance of music education, saying: “Teachers deserve far more praise than they often receive.”

The award marked the end of the annual Global Education and Skills Forum.