Kenyan educator who gives most of his salary to students in need wins $1 million global teaching prize

Peter Tabichi already knows what he's going to do with the $1 million he received upon being awarded the 2019 Global Teacher Prize.

The 36-year-old science teacher from rural Kenya will donate some of it to his school, Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Pwani Village, Nakuru, with the rest going to feed the poor. Tabichi, a Franciscan friar, already gives away 80 percent of his salary to students who otherwise couldn't afford uniforms or books. "Africa's young people will no longer be held back by low expectations," he told BBC News. "Africa will produce scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs whose names will be one day famous in every corner of the world. And girls will be a huge part of this story."

His school doesn't have a library, is overcrowded, and lacks resources, but that hasn't stopped Tabichi from providing his students with an excellent education; several have gone on to compete in international science competitions, and the Global Teacher Prize judges said because of his hard work, Tabichi has "dramatically improved his pupils' achievement."

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Tabichi received the prize Sunday in Dubai, beating out more than 10,000 nominees from 179 countries. He told BBC News he wants to keep showing his students that "science is the way to go," and will never stop encouraging them to go to college. "It's morning in Africa," he said. "The skies are clear. The day is young and there is a blank page waiting to be written. This is Africa's time."