The Teacher Who Won $1 Million for Turning India’s Slums into Open-Air Classrooms

An innovative Indian educator has captured global attention after winning a $1 million international teaching award for transforming some of India’s most underprivileged neighborhoods into open-air classrooms. Ranjitsinh Disale, a primary school teacher from Maharashtra, was recognized for his pioneering efforts to bring education directly into slum communities where poverty, migration, and social barriers had kept thousands of children out of school.
Disale received the prestigious Global Teacher Prize, honoring educators who demonstrate exceptional impact and innovation. His work has been praised for blending community engagement, digital learning, and grassroots problem-solving to tackle long-standing educational inequality.
Classrooms Without Walls
In areas where schools were distant or overcrowded, Disale created outdoor learning spaces in narrow lanes, open fields, and community courtyards. Armed with portable teaching materials and a smartphone, he conducted lessons for children who could not attend formal schools due to family obligations or lack of documentation.
“These children were invisible to the system,” Disale said during the award ceremony. “So I decided to make the system visible to them by bringing education to their doorstep.”
His approach focused on flexibility. Lessons were scheduled around work hours for children who helped their families earn a living, and teaching methods were adapted for multilingual communities. Simple tools such as digital QR codes linked students to video lessons and reading materials, allowing them to continue learning even when teachers were not physically present.
Breaking Social Barriers
One of the most remarkable aspects of Disale’s work has been his success in encouraging girls’ education in conservative and marginalized communities. In regions where early marriage and social restrictions prevented girls from attending school, he negotiated directly with families and community leaders.
Through awareness campaigns and community meetings, he demonstrated how education could improve health, income, and long-term security. As a result, enrollment among girls in his target areas rose dramatically, and several villages reported zero dropouts for multiple years.
Local parents said the teacher’s dedication changed their perception of schooling. “We used to think education was not for our children,” one mother explained. “Now we see it as their future.”
Technology as an Equalizer
Disale’s model relies heavily on low-cost technology. He developed QR-coded textbooks that allowed students to scan pages using basic mobile phones and access recorded lessons. This proved especially useful during the COVID-19 pandemic, when schools across India were shut for months.
By combining outdoor teaching with digital content, he ensured learning continuity even in the absence of classrooms. Education officials have since explored scaling his methods to other regions with limited infrastructure.
Global Recognition
The Global Teacher Prize jury praised Disale for “turning obstacles into opportunities” and for creating an education system that works beyond traditional school walls. Judges highlighted the sustainability of his methods and their potential to be replicated in slums and remote areas worldwide.
Education experts say his achievement sends a powerful message about the role of teachers in social transformation. “This is not just about one classroom,” said an education policy analyst. “It’s about reimagining how and where education can happen.”
Impact Beyond the Prize
Disale has pledged to use a significant portion of his prize money to expand his initiatives and fund educational programs for disadvantaged children. He has also committed to sharing his teaching techniques with educators across India and abroad through workshops and online platforms.
Rather than viewing the award as a personal triumph, he described it as recognition of teachers everywhere who work in difficult conditions. “This prize belongs to every teacher who refuses to give up on a child,” he said.
A Model for the Future
As India continues to grapple with educational inequality, Disale’s work offers a blueprint for community-based solutions. His open-air classrooms demonstrate that education does not require expensive buildings, only commitment, creativity, and trust from the community.
In turning slums into spaces of learning, Ranjitsinh Disale has shown that innovation can flourish even in the most challenging environments. His story is a reminder that sometimes the most powerful classrooms are not enclosed by walls, but by hope.