29 Jan 2024
The Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards is back for its sixth year, inviting people around the world to tell us about their favourite teacher.
The global competition provides the chance for students, parents and other teachers to say ‘thank-you’ to a special educator, as we join together to share examples of inspiring education across the world.
Nominations are open until 15 February 2024. People can nominate by going to the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards site and submitting a written entry of less than 150 words, or a video no longer than two minutes.
A select panel of judges will pick nine regional winners who will appear on a thank you page at the beginning of new Cambridge University Press & Assessment International Education textbooks. They will also win a class set of books of their choice, as well as publicity about their achievement throughout the year.
The public will then vote for the overall winner of the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards.
The significance of teachers
We established the awards to showcase the importance of teachers in shaping the lives of their students, through actions both big and small.
Matthew Walker, Director of Teaching & Learning Content, International Education, said: “In an era of technological advancements and rapidly changing landscapes, the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards are a striking reminder that teachers remain the linchpin in a young person’s journey from the classroom to the real world.
“We celebrate the unsung heroes who invest their time, energy, and passion into moulding the responsible citizens of tomorrow. Because teachers are not just conveyors of information; they are architects of character, mentors of resilience, and catalysts for inspiration.
“The awards are not just a recognition of individual excellence but a collective tribute to the enduring significance of educators in shaping a brighter, more empowered future for generations to come.”
Since its first year, the awards have received over 40,000 nominations from 145 countries. They have celebrated 290 shortlisted teachers, 29 regional winners and six overall global winners from a diverse cross-section of the global teaching community.
The past six winners of the global award include teachers from primary, secondary and vocational schools in Pakistan, Colombia, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and Nigeria. Winners have come from independent schools and from rural, one-room schools without electricity. In all of these examples, the same warmth and dedication to their learners shines through.
Last year’s winner, Akeem Badru, from St Michael RCM Primary School, Nigeria, had his whole village turn out to see him receive the award.
After dropping out of school when he could no longer afford to attend, Akeem dedicated his life to becoming a teacher in order to give underprivileged children the chances that he didn’t have.
Teaching in a one room-school without electricity, Akeem caught the judges’ eye with a science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) project that combined model making to promote inquisitiveness, creativity and critical thinking, and for his work as TeachSDG (sustainable development goals) Ambassador. In this role, he financed the construction of a borehole for the village to solve the problem of water-related diseases that keep his pupils out of school.
“As a naturally giving person, no other profession aligns better with my nature and purpose than teaching. It grants me the opportunity to impart all that I have learned and immerse myself in the lives of those I encounter. This calling has bestowed upon me the chance to make a meaningful contribution to the lives of children and nurture within them a positive mindset towards their future."
Get involved in the 2024 awards
Anyone can nominate a teacher for the awards, so if you know someone you would like to thank, head over to the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards website and tell us all about them.