KUALA LUMPUR: With Teachers Day coming up next Monday (May 16), now is the perfect time to nominate your favourite inspiring educator for the inaugural Malaysia Teacher Prize.

       The award is the Malaysian edition of the Varkey Foundation's Global Teacher Prize and is now open for applications.

       This inaugural award seeks to raise the status of teachers and celebrate the achievement of outstanding teachers in Malaysia.

       The organisers hope to see at least 1,000 teachers across the country nominated. The grand prize winner will receive RM50,000 while four other finalists will receive RM5,000 each.

       The top 10 finalists will also undergo professional development to help them better understand their impact as educators and potentially scale their work beyond their schools.

       It is organised by Pemimpin GSL in partnership with YTL Foundation, with the support of the Education Ministry.

       At the launch on Tuesday (May 10), Pemimpin GSL CEO Cheryl Ann Fernando said anyone can nominate a teacher for the award so long as they meet the criteria.

       Those who are interested in nominating a teacher can do so by submitting their nominations and providing basic information on their nominees.

       The nominees will receive an email inviting them to apply.

       Teachers can also apply for the award themselves.

       They need to create an account on the website and will be required to complete five essays of between 300 and 500 words, and upload supporting materials.

       Pemimpin GSL programme director Samuel Isaiah said there are four main criteria to be eligible for the award.

       One is that a nominee must be teaching the national syllabus for at least 10 hours a week.

       They must also plan to still be in the service for at least five more years, he said.

       "Teachers need to know that they are highly valued and cherished by society," said Samuel, who is the first Malaysian teacher to be shortlisted in the Top 10 for the Global Teacher Prize.

       YTL Foundation programme director Datuk Kathleen Chew said they are "delighted to sponsor the prize" as part of the foundation's 25th anniversary.

       Applications close on June 30 and the names of the Top 10 shortlisted finalists are expected to be released in August.

       For more information and to apply, visit https://malaysiateacherprize.org/