Indian teachers should compete with their international counterparts by participating in the Global Teacher Prize, which is touted as an equivalent to Nobel in this profession, says a member of the academy that selects the award winner.
"We want to see that a big number of teachers are nominated for the award, especially from rural India," said Binoy Job, an Indian member of the London-based Global Teacher Prize Academy.
The academy was constituted by Varkey Foundation last year to raise the stature of teaching profession and is currently being chaired by former US President Bill Clinton.
According to the Academy's website, the award operates under patronage of UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Job said teachers can apply on their own or may be nominated by others for the prize.
"Some teachers may not like to apply for the contest on their own but others can nominate them. Education has immense importance in our culture and gurus are respected highly. So, others can chip in to nominate the deserving teachers," said Job, who earlier served as Director in the PMO and heads an NGO.
The prize is open to the working teachers who teach children who are in "compulsory schooling" or are between the ages of five and 18, according to the website of the Academy.
"Teachers who continue to teach, even on a part-time basis are also eligible, as are teachers of online courses," it says.
The awardee is chosen after being judged on a "rigorous" set of criteria to identify an extraordinary teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession, Job said.
