A volunteer teacher from Kilifi county has brought Kenya to global limelight, for a good reason, after she emerged as the only African among ten 10 finalists that have been nominated for a Sh90 million global teachers’ award.

Jackline Jumbe of Bofa Primary School , who has been acknowledged for devoting her time working as a volunteer to helping bright but needy students in Kilifi will be competing against teachers from the US, India, UK and Afghanistan.

Ms Jumbe is the founder of LIBA (Lifting the Barriers), an organization that seeks to create a better learning environment for children, especially those living with disabilities. She holds a masters Degree in Education from the Institute of Education, University of London thanks to a Commonwealth Scholarship.

If she wins the award, Jumbe says that she will use the funds to improve the infrastructure of schools as “most schools in Kilifi County are in a dilapidated condition”. She says that she will also expand the impact of the LIBA organization and establish programs to improve the qualifications of teachers and school leaders in the County. She would also create a Teachers and Students Development Centre that provides access to teaching resources and computers with internet connection.

The prestigious Global Teacher Prize was launched by the The Varkey Foundation with the aim of celebrating the best teachers around the world, those who inspire their students and the communities around them; with a focus on uplifting valuable contribution that teachers make to establish a flourishing global society.

According to the Foundation, applicants of the Prize were judged based on a rigorous set of criteria aimed to identify an extraordinary teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession. Participants had to demonstrate evidence of:

• • Recognition of a teacher’s achievements in the classroom and beyond from pupils, colleagues, head-teachers or members of the wider community.
  • Preparing children to be global citizens in a world where they will encounter people from many different religions, cultures and nationalities.

Employing innovative and effective instructional practices and achieving demonstrable student learning

• outcomes in the classroom.
• Developing and sharing innovative thought leadership that has improved access to quality teaching and education for children of all backgrounds.
• Contributing to public debates on raising the bar of the teaching profession, whether through writing articles, blogs, media participation, social media campaigns, events or conferences.
• Accomplishments beyond the classroom that provide unique and distinguished models of excellence for the teaching profession.
• Encouraging others to join the teaching profession.