A Chemistry and Physics teacher at St Francis Misyani Girls High School in Machakos, has been shortlisted among the Top 50 finalists for the 2026 Global Teacher Prize, a competition with a cash reward of about Ksh129 million.
According to the Global Prize, one Shalom Maweu Sila, has been recognised for his transformative work in learning innovation, digital learning, and girl-focused STEM empowerment, which has reshaped education in rural Machakos County.
Since joining St Francis Misyani Girls’ High School in 2014, Sila is credited for having championed learner-centred and technology-driven teaching practices that have increased girls’ participation and achievement in Physics and Chemistry, subjects traditionally seen as male-dominated in his community.
Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sila played a key role in safeguarding learning continuity nationwide.
He collaborated with 300 volunteer teachers to deliver online lessons via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other platforms.
The success of the programme led the Kenyan government to adopt it as a formal learning-continuity model, with Sila appointed as a national master trainer and champion teacher for Remote Learning Methodologies.
At his school, Sila has introduced virtual labs, gamified learning, livestreamed lessons, robotics, coding, and AI into classroom and after-school programmes.
During this period, girls’ enrolment in Physics rose from 9 per cent in 2016 to 43 per cent in 2025, while the proportion of students achieving C+ and above also increased.
Beyond academics, Sila is credited with having addressed social, economic, and cultural barriers faced by rural girls.
He co-founded a school-based Education Foundation providing scholarships and essential supplies to over 150 girls, and mentors students through STEM Ambassadors and psycho-social support groups.
''As a Teachers Service Commission (TSC) national champion, he has trained hundreds of teachers in digital pedagogy, supported ICT integration in schools, evaluated national livestream programmes with the World Bank, and helped retool more than 300 ICT champions across five counties,'' the Global Prize described him in a statement.
If awarded the Ksh129 million(USD1 million) Global Teacher Prize, Sila plans to build a state-of-the-art school makerspace and establish the region’s first Community ICT and Innovation Hub.
This is expected to expand digital access and nurture future inventors, while continuing his work to empower rural girls to embrace STEM and transform their communities.
Meanwhile, TSC congratulated Sila, describing his selection as an “incredible achievement” and a milestone for Kenyan educators on the global stage.
