Malawian up for $1m global teacher prize
Malawian teacher Andrew Nchessie of Kasungu Demonstration School and Kasungu Teachers Training College has been included in the first ever GEMS Foundation Global Teacher Prize which could see him walk away with $1 million if he come out on top.
Teacher Prize, considered the Nobel Prize for Education.
The other 49 nominees are dotted around 25 countries, with 16 of them coming from the USA.
Nchessie said he started his teaching career in a primary school in 1994 and since then he has made a significant contribution to curriculum development in Malawi, along with training the nation’s primary school teachers on using new curricula.
Among others, he has also contributed material to 150 science educational television programmes that have been broadcast to over 10 million viewers.
A panel of judges whittles the 50 nominees down to 10, and the winner of the Global Teacher Prize will be announced at the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai on March 16, 2015, according to globalteacherprize.org.
Sponsored by the Varkley GEMS Foundation, the “reward of a lifetime” is given to “one innovative and caring teacher who has made an inspirational impact on their students and their community. Teachers currently teaching children in a compulsory setting or between the ages 5-18 are eligible.”
Special commendations to outstanding teachers around the world will also be awarded.
Nchessie said the nomination is the recognition of the hard work among the teachers in the country.
Former US president Bill Clinton, who chairs the foundation, said improving standards in school depended on “attracting the best people to teaching, developing and supporting their skills, and holding our teachers in high regard”.
All the best,we may need as many as possible motivated teachers like you,the problem is that we simply wait and watch for others or idleness
Mbwana muwina basi tizitafune pa culture club yayayayaya
All the best Andrew! You are a winner already! We are behind u in support of your candidature. Go go for it! Proud of you
Quota system, regionalism, bla bla bla, its none of my business. I’m here to congratulate Mr Nchessie for representing Malawi as a nation not a region nor a tribe. All the best Nchessie
i knew this guy since primary school ,he worked hard and i see he still works even harder. I’m not amazed he deserves it. Hard working pay you about to be paid bro. All the best Nchessie
Bwana Alex, I am certain you got my point loud and clear. If we had enough spaces to accommodate at least 50,000 students to public and private universities each year, we would probably be in a position to produce 100 or 200 Nchesis each year. With just 3000 places in a country of 14 million people, what is evident is that Malawi’s problems go beyond Quota. It is insane to believe that with just 3000, you can still pick the undeserving for tertiary schooling. Everyone that goes is deserving but why can’t we send every deserving one to university every… Read more »
zoona mwina tipeze zomwela
A mtichi Ndugi mwabeba kuti bebebebebee!!!!! Go for it Bra!!!!!
Mr. Kanonono,
Merit prevails. This guy if he was an average guy or a quota beneficiary, he would not have been on the top ten. Just imagine if these guys were to use quota system, then Swaziland would have been included. Boy we are in a global world and in order to compete globally, merit is the solution.
I know you are a below average guy.
Teaching is not just a job but a calling. You can have a degree but fail to deliver and motivate and give out the needed input to learners. Wishing you all the best, friend up there.