Primary school teacher and the Global Teacher Prize 2020 winner, Ranjitsinh Disale will join the judging panel to select the new Global Student Prize Academy winner to be announced in Paris in November this year. The $50,000 sister award has been launched by the Varkey Foundation with Chegg.org, the non-profit arm of the US-based education technology company, Chegg. The Global Student Prize aims to highlight the efforts of students who are making a real impact on learning, the lives of their peers and society.

Open to all students aged 16 years at least, the applicants need to be enrolled in an academic institution or in a training and skills programme. Even part-time students as well as those doing online courses are eligible for the prize. The students will be assessed on a set of rigorous parameters including academic performance, impact on the community, overcoming the odds, creativity and innovation and how they operate as global citizens. The applications which have a closing date of May 16, will shortlist the Top 50 students before narrowing it down to Top 10 finalists. The Global Student Prize Academy members will then select the winner from the Top 10 contenders. The winner will not only be awarded the prize money but also attend the winning ceremony.    

As a member of the panel, Ranjitsinh Disale and other esteemed leaders involved in  education, educational mentoring and other education-related non-profits will pick the winner. “The Global Student Prize has been launched to shine a light on their (students’) stories and hear their voices. I am so proud to join the academy and support such an inspiring cause,” said Ranjitsinh Disale speaking to the media earlier.

Ranjitsinh Disale, a primary school teacher from Paritewadi village, Solapur district, Maharashtra won global acclaim for not only winning the prestigious Global Teacher Prize in December 2020 but also sharing fifty percent of the $ 1million prize money with his fellow finalists in a bid to support their work.

Hollywood actors Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis besides American women’s national soccer team player Julie Ertz and Zach Ertz of the Philadelphia Eagles  National football league are also part of the Global Student Prize Academy. The Varkey Foundation has been founded by non-resident Indian, Sunny Varkey, a Dubai-based education entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is amongst the first education entrepreneurs to commit to ‘The Giving Pledge’ vowing to donate at least half of his money to philanthropic causes over his lifetime.  

Also read: The world is my classroom: Ranjitsinh Disale, winner Global Teacher Prize 2020