Hugh Jackman announces top 10 finalists and thanks His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his patronage of the prize

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 21 February 2019: The top 10 finalists for the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2019 were announced today by actor, singer, and producer Hugh Jackman at globalteacherprize.org. Now in its fifth year, the US$1 million award is the largest prize of its kind and awarded under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai.

In a special video message announcing the top ten finalists, the Wolverine and Greatest Showman star Hugh Jackman said: I would like to give special thanks to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai under whose continued patronage the Global Teacher Prize has become a shining beacon to teachers around the world.

He also spoke fondly and with the affection of the acting teacher who helped him raise his game.

The 10 finalists for the Global Teacher Prize 2019 are:

Andrew Moffat MBE, a Personal Social Health Education (PSHE) teacher from Parkfield Community School, Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom;

Daisy Mertens, an all subjects teacher at community-based school De Vuurvogel, Helmond, Netherlands;

Dbora Garofalo a Technologies for Learning teacher at EMEF Almirante Ary Parreiras, So Paulo, Brazil;

Hidekazu Shoto, an English language and ICT teacher at Ritsumeikan Primary School, Kyoto, Japan;

Martin Salvetti Head of Automative Studies and Adult Professional Training, at EEST N5 "2 de Abril" Temperley, Temperley, Buenos Aires, Argentina;

Melissa Salguero, a Music teacher at P.S.48 Joseph R Drake elementary school, the Bronx, New York, United States;

Peter Tabichi, a Maths and Physics teacher at Keriko Secondary School, Pwani Village, Nakuru, Kenya;

Swaroop Rawal, a Life Skills teacher, at Lavad Primary School, Gujarat, India;

Vladimer Apkhazava, a Civic Education teacher at Chibati Public School, Tbilisi, Georgia,

Yasodai Selvakumaran a history and society and culture teacher, at Rooty Hill High School, New South Wales, Australia.

Hugh Jackman said: When I was a kid there were lots of superheroes that I wanted to be. But I can tell you right now, from where I stand, with all my experience, the real superheroes are teachers theyre the ones that change the world.

The finalists have been selected from over 10,000 nominations and applications from 179 countries around the world. Separate to this, there have also been tens of thousands of applications for the 33 national Teacher Prizes that have been inspired by the Global Teacher Prize. The winners of each National Teacher Prize were also put forward for consideration when the top 50 shortlist for this years global prize was decided.

The Global Teacher Prize was set up to recognize one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession as well as to shine a spotlight on the important role teachers play in society. In this way, the prize hopes to bring to life the exceptional work of millions of teachers all over the world.

The top 10 have been narrowed down from a top 50 shortlist that was announced in December 2018. By highlighting their stories the Varkey Foundation hopes that the public will be able to join in passionate debates about the importance of teachers. The winner will be announced at the Global Education & Skills Forum in Dubai on Sunday 24 March 2019.