- Lost mother at tender age
Tabichi’s mother died when he was just 11, leaving his father, a primary school teacher, with the job of raising him and his siblings.
2. This was his first time on an airplane
Tabichi’s first time ever on an airplane was coming to Dubai to claim his prize.
3. He is 36 years old
The 36-year-old teacher hailed the potential of Africa’s young population.
Peter Tabichi
4. He is a monk
The award-winning teacher is a member of the Franciscan religious order, a member of the Catholic religious order founded by St Francis of Assisi in the 13th Century.
5. Gives a chunk of pay away
Tabichi gives away 80 per cent of his pay to support pupils at the Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in the remote Pwani village, Nakuru, who otherwise could not afford uniform or books.
6. Goes out of his way
Not only does he give away his salary to charity, but he also spends his weekends offering remedial teaching to his students.
7. Got a special message from President Uhuru Kenyatta
President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a video message: “Peter, your story is the story of Africa, a young continent bursting with talent.
8. Has changed his students’ lives
Despite the grave obstacles Tabichi and his students face, he is credited with helping many of them stay in school, qualify for international competitions in science and engineering and go on to college.
9. The school he works at is in poor condition
The public school where Tabichi is a teacher has just one computer and shoddy Internet access. The school also has no library and no laboratory. The school has high drop out rate.
10. Science aspirations
Tabichi teaches science to high schoolers in the semi-arid village of Pwani where
almost a third of children are orphans or have single parent in an area where drought and famine are common.
Bonus!
He was the first male teacher to win the Global Teacher Prize in Dubai. This is the fifth year the award is running.