A teacher from Machakos County has brought international attention to Kenya by making it to the Top 50 finalists for the 2026 Global Teacher Prize, a Ksh130 million award recognising outstanding educators worldwide.
Shallom Maweu Sila, who teaches physics and chemistry at St. Francis Misyani Girls High School in Kangundo, is the only Kenyan shortlisted this year from thousands of nominees across more than 130 countries.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has congratulated Sila for the achievement, describing his selection as a proud moment for the country and the teaching profession.
In a statement released on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, the commission said it was celebrating his outstanding performance and dedication after being named among the Top 50 best teachers globally.
“Congratulations to Teacher Shalom Sila, a Chemistry and Physics teacher at St. Francis Misyani Girls High School in Machakos. Teachers Service Commission celebrates your incredible achievement of being selected among the Top 50 Best Teachers in the Global Teacher Prize 2026,” the statement 2001190563836539023.
Sila’s recognition comes after a remarkable year of achievements. Earlier in 2025, he was named First Runner-Up in the African Union Continental Best Teacher Award. He was also honoured by the Teachers Service Commission during World Teachers’ Day celebrations for his exceptional service and dedication to education.
Since joining St. Francis Misyani Girls in 2014, Sila has revolutionised science education, particularly for girls in rural Machakos. Physics enrolment at the school rose from nine per cent in 2016 to more than 40 per cent in 2025, the highest increase recorded in the county.
His teaching approach is innovative and technology-driven. Sila integrates virtual laboratories, simulations, robotics, coding, and artificial intelligence into his lessons to make science more interactive and engaging. Many of his former students have gone on to pursue STEM courses in universities and technical colleges, often returning to mentor younger learners.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sila volunteered to teach online, starting with just two students. Within 17 weeks, the programme had grown to reach more than 10,000 learners weekly. This initiative led the government, through TSC, to adopt it as a formal remote learning model, appointing him a national trainer in digital pedagogy.
Beyond classroom teaching, Sila has worked to support underprivileged girls. He co-founded a school-based education fund that provides scholarships, sanitary items, and stationery to over 150 girls annually. He also promotes environmental education through projects in biogas, solar energy, organic farming, and tree planting, reducing the school’s energy costs by about 30 per cent.
The Global Teacher Prize, organised by the Varkey Foundation in partnership with UNESCO, recognises teachers whose work transforms students’ lives and communities. Being among the Top 50 finalists places Sila in an elite group of educators with far-reaching impact.
The final award ceremony will take place in February 2026 in Dubai.
