2025 Global Teacher Prize announcing the Top 50 Finalists

We are absolutely thrilled to introduce the GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize Top 50 Finalists!

Applications and nominations for the GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize, a Varkey Foundation initiative organised in collaboration with UNESCO, opened in October 2024 and closed on 16 December 2024. The prize is open to working teachers who teach children that are in compulsory schooling or are between the ages of five and eighteen. Teachers who teach children age 4+ in an Early Years government-recognised curriculum are also eligible, as are teachers who teach on a part-time basis, and teachers of online courses. Teachers must spend at least 10 hours per week teaching and plan to remain in the profession for the next 5 years.  It is open to teachers in every kind of school and, subject to local laws, in every country in the world. Since its launch, the Global Teacher Prize has received over 100,000 applications and nominations from around the globe.

Now in its ninth year, the USD 1 million Global Teacher Prize is the largest prize of its kind.

It was set up to recognise one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession as well as to shine a spotlight on the important role teachers play in society. By unearthing thousands of stories of heroes that have transformed young people’s lives, the prize hopes to bring to life the exceptional work of millions of teachers all over the world.

The prize will now be narrowed down to top 10 finalists, to be announced in late January, helping to raise the bar of respect for the teaching profession. The winner will be chosen from the top 10 finalists by the Global Teacher Prize Academy made up of prominent individuals, and will be announced at the World Governments Summit, taking place in Dubai from 11-13 February.