Ranjitsinh Disale
{{short description|Indian teacher}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ranjitsinh Disale
| image = Disale Ranjitsinh (2025).jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = |
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Paritewadi, Maharashtra
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Indian
| other_names =
| occupation = Teacher
| years_active =
| known_for = Global Teacher Prize
| notable_works =
| awards = Global Teacher Prize, Innovative Researcher of the Year (2016)
}}
Ranjitsinh Disale is an Indian teacher from Maharashtra. He is the winner of $1 million annual Global Teacher Prize 2020 which was announced on 3 December 2020.{{cite news|last1=DelhiDecember 4|first1=India Today Web Desk New|title=Govt school teacher Ranjitsinh Disale wins Global Teacher Prize, makes history by sharing half with other finalists|language=en|work=India Today|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/govt-school-teacher-ranjitsinh-disale-wins-1-million-usd-global-teacher-prize-1746709-2020-12-04|access-date=6 December 2020}} The Global Teacher Prize, which has been referred to by journalists as the Nobel Prize for teaching, highlights and celebrates the profession while giving greater recognition to the work of teachers all over the world. Disale said in his winning speech that he would share with his nine fellow finalists half of the prize money, meaning they would receive $55,000 each.{{Cite web|title=Ranjitsinh Disale 2020 -The 2020 Global Teacher Prize winner|url=https://www.globalteacherprize.org/winners/ranjitsinh-disale-2020/|access-date=6 December 2020|website=Global Teacher Prize|language=en}}{{Cite news|date=4 December 2020|title=Maharashtra teacher Ranjitsinh Disale wins 2020 Global Teacher Prize, rewarded over Rs 7 crore|language=en|website=DNA India|agency=Reuters|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/news-to-sir-with-love-maharashtra-teacher-ranjitsinh-disale-wins-1-million-2020-global-teacher-prize-2859990|access-date=21 December 2020}} He also works with the World Bank as Advisor for their educational programs.{{Cite news|title=Ranjitsinh Disale Appointed As World Bank Education Advisor|url=https://www.ndtv.com/education/ranjitsinh-disale-appointed-world-bank-education-advisor|access-date=2021-06-03|website=NDTV.com|language=en}}{{Cite news|last= |date=2021-06-03|title=Ranjitsinh Disale appointed as World Bank Education Advisor|url=https://english.lokmat.com/maharashtra/ranjitsinh-disale-appointed-as-world-bank-education-advisor/|access-date=2021-06-03|website=Lokmat English|language=en}} He was selected by the US Government to join Fulbright Program.{{Cite web |title=Ranjitsinh Disale of Solapur selected for 2021-22 Fulbright DAI sponsored by U.S |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/education/article/ranjitsinh-disale-of-solapur-selected-for-2021-22-fulbright-dai-sponsored-by-u-s/837917 |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=www.timesnownews.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-07-15 |title=Solapur’s global teacher prize winner off on fulbright fellowship to upskill |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/solapurs-global-teacher-prize-winner-off-on-fulbright-fellowship-to-upskill-101657827910504.html |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}
Early life and education
Disale hails from Paritewadi Village in the Solapur District of Maharashtra. At the beginning, he decided to be an IT engineer and had enrolled in an engineering college. But when things didn't fit for him, his father convinced him to take up the teacher's training programme. While Disale was initially reluctant about the decision, his time at the college of teacher training made him realize that the real change-makers in the world are the teachers.{{Cite web|url= https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/govt-school-teacher-ranjitsinh-disale-wins-1-million-usd-global-teacher-prize-1746709-2020-12-04|website=India Today|title=Govt school teacher Ranjitsinh Disale wins Global Teacher Prize, makes history by sharing half with other finalists|language=en|access-date=6 December 2020}}
Career
Disale is well known for his innovative teaching works, including demonstrating scientific experiments from the science lab built by him and adding QR codes to primary category books so that his students can get links to audio poems, video lectures, assignments and stories. Today, his efforts have led to 100 per cent attendance, especially of girls, at the Paritewadi school he teaches.
His practice of embedding QR codes in textbooks helped 300 schools adapt the same. He has also set up Rs 1 lakh scholarships for the education of 10 girls.{{Cite web |last=Agrawal |first=Aarushi |date=2022-07-05 |title=After $1 Million Prize, Village Teacher Transforms Education in Maharashtra |url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/290023/ranjitsinh-disale-global-teacher-prize-transforming-education-in-maharashtra/ |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=The Better India |language=en-US}} His idea of incorporating QR codes into textbooks was adopted by National Council of Educational Research and Training.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/maharashtra-zilla-parishad-educator-first-in-india-to-win-1-million-teacher-prize/story-X4tF9IzmEVNZFarOq9CW7I.html|website=Hindustan Times|title=Maharashtra zilla parishad educator first in India to win $1-million teacher prize|language=en|access-date=6 December 2020}}
In his village, he also campaigned to eliminate adolescent marriages and encourage the education of girls.
He submitted his resignation letter in July 2022 to join Fulbright Program in USA. The Education Ministry approved study leave and allowed him to participate in the program without resignation.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-22 |title=Education Min Varsha Gaikwad directs authorities to approve Ranjitsinh Disale’s study leave |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/education-min-varsha-gaikwad-directs-authorities-to-approve-ranjitsinh-disale-s-study-leave-101642864005341.html |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}} Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured him that Maharashtra government will support him.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-17 |title=Ranjith Disale meets Shinde, Deputy CM ZP teacher shouldn’t be troubled: Fadnavis |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/ranjith-disale-meets-shinde-deputy-cm-fadnavis-8033972/ |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-08-06 |title=Solapur ZP rejects resignation of teacher going to US for studies |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/solapur-zp-rejects-resignation-of-teacher-going-to-us-for-studies-8073694/ |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}
Awards
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Result !Presented by !Ref. |
| 2016
|Innovative Researcher of the Year |{{won}} |
| 2020
|Global Teacher Prize |{{won}} |
References
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Category:Indian schoolteachers
Category:Educators from Maharashtra