The Varkey Foundationannounced the Top 10 Global Teacher Prize Finalists.

According to blog post on the foundation's sitethe top 10 teachers are a richly diverse group of individuals: hailing from five continents they each employ unique teaching methods in the most varied of surroundings - from hi-tech labs through to refugee camps from the US to Palestine to India and Pakistan among other nations.

The top ten have been narrowed down from 8000 nominations and applications from 148 countries from around the world. The winner will be announced at the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai on Sunday March 13 2016.

Sunny Varkey founder of the Varkey Foundation said: "The thousands of nominations and applications we received from every corner of the planet is testimony to the achievements of teachers and the enormous impact they have on all of our lives."

Ban Ki-moon Secretary-General of the United Nations said: "I count my teachers as among the most influential people in my life. Teachers are entrusted with nurturing the potential of the young and helping them blossom as productive and responsible members of society. It is hard to underestimate their value."

"The award is in line with my Global Education First Initiative launched in 2012 which aims to give momentum to the worldwide movement to put every child in school improve the quality of learning and foster global citizenship" he added.

What made the announcement special was thaticonic theoreticalphysicist and cosmologist Professor Stephen Hawking introduced the top 10:

Here are the Global Teacher Prize Top 10 Finalists.

Aqeela Asifi - Championing female education in Pakistan

Having escaped the Taleban in Afghanistan Aqeela began teaching in a borrowed tent in a refugee camp providing the first taste of education to young Afghan and Pakistani girls. Today over a thousand girls have graduated from her schools and she has been fundamental to changing attitudes towards female education in a deeply conservative community.

Hanan Al Hroub- Promoting peace through education in Palestine

In a society torn apart by conflict where children are regularly exposed to violence Hanan Al Hroub is building trust and affection in the classroom. Her book 'We Play and Learn' is influential in promoting a new focus of literacy and learning as the future for the Palestinian people.

Robin Chaurasiya- Giving India's forgotten victims a voice

The people of Kamathipura Mumbai's notorious red-light district are on the outer margins of society. However a small schoolroom in the centre of the district is a remarkable force for change. There Robin Chaurasiya is giving the girls an education where none had existed before. She teaches them to think and speak for themselves. And they are finding a voice spreading the word to others in the community and to over 100000 children and parents.

Ayub Mohamud - Combating extremism in Kenya

For children in Nairobi and rural Kenya unemployment and poverty are not the only challenges they face. In recent years the spectres of radicalisation and violent extremism have reared their heads. Religious Education teacher Ayub Mohamud has been fighting this encroachment creating a network of like-minded teachers and formulating new strategies for combatting extremism.

Colin Hegarty- Using the power of the internet to make maths fun

Mathematics is the subject that many children find the hardest to understand and relate to. In the UK one teacher has harnessed the power of the internet to engage them and with his unique style help them understand concepts they had struggled to grasp. Colin Hegarty has created over 1500 videos and made them freely available on his website and through YouTube. Five million views and grateful comments from students all over the world are testimony to his success.

Joe Fatheree - Tearing up the rule book in Illinois

Some teenagers and young adults simply don't respond to traditional teaching methods. In these cases it's time to devise new ways to foster their creativity. In Illinois Joe Fatheree's students are making music books and short films. They are learning through technology public speaking and lessons in entrepreneurship. They are learning in ways that engage them. And his methods are now being used all over America.

Kazuya Takahashi - Fostering creativity in Japan

In a society where many students are channelled into a pre-determined career Kayuya Takahshi's pupils often take a different path. His innovative teaching methods are designed to develop creativity and independent thinking. He has even started a global citizenship project in which his students travel to Indonesia to help tackle social issues.

Maarit Rossi -Bringing Maths to life in Finland

Too many children hate Maths. But Maarit Rossi believes the problem isn't with Maths itself but simply the way it's taught. So she has developed new teaching methods that relate maths problems to her students' real lives. Her techniques have had a major impact on results notably amongst girls who have traditionally done less well in maths than boys.

Michael Soskil - Finding the joy in helping others

From the small town of Newfoundland in Pennsylvania the children of Wallenpaupack South Elementary School have reached out to the world. They have helped provide clean water to fight a cholera outbreak in Kenya held videoconferences with scientists in Antarctica and conservationists in Africa and had lessons in Swahili from Kenyan children. It's all part of Michael's approach to teaching of empowering student and making them believe they can change the world for the better.

Richard Johnson - Transforming STEM teaching in Australia

The possibilities for new technology to enhance education are exciting. And nowhere has technology been as enthusiastically embraced as at the Rostrata Primary School in Western Australia. There Richard Johnson has transformed science teaching with his innovative laboratory where students use robotics 3d printing augmented reality and a host of other tools real and online to engage with STEM subjects. He now shares his methods with the wider educational community at conferences and online.

Commenting on the award Bill Gates Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said: "We were so excited by the plans to launch the Global Teacher Prize."

Academy Award winning actor Kevin Spacey who sits on the Global Teacher Prize Academy that chooses the final winner said: "When I was starting out I was inspired by an older more experienced actor who told me that he thought I ought to go into acting professionally. That's the kind of mentoring and personal support that every young person needs to realise their potential."

All ten finalists will be invited to Dubai for the Award ceremony at the Global Education and Skills Forum (GESF) in March this year where the winner will be announced live.