Turkish teacher among world's top 50

By Ilyas Gun

SAMSUN, Turkey (AA) - Nurten Akkus, a Turkish preschool teacher, has become one of 50 finalists in the 2018 Global Teacher Prize, often dubbed the Nobel Prize for teaching.

Having launched many projects across Turkey to promote education in small, rural schools as well as improving parent-child relationships, Akkus was selected as one of the top 50 teachers of the world.

Manager of the Ayvacik Kindergarten in the northern province of Samsun for several years, Akkus said it was an exciting experience to be chosen.

"I signed many projects on a national basis and got awards. It is a great pleasure for me to carry this on the international scale and to make the Turkish name and the power of Turkish teaching known on the international platform. I am very proud of it," Akkus told Anadolu Agency.

Akkus' "Daddy, tell me a story" project, which has been implemented in 45 different provinces, has provided education for hundreds of fathers on father-child relationships.

His award-winning "Piggy Bank for Toys" project is also being implemented across 43 provinces to provide children with toys in small village schools.

According to the Global Teacher Prize -- sponsored by the Varkey Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on improving the standards of education across the world -- the winner will be announced in March next year in Dubai and will win a $1 million prize.