A TEACHER in Cebu is among the Top 10 finalists of the prestigious Global Teacher Prize 2021.

Bryant Acar, a senior high school teacher of the Science and Technology Education Center, was nominated by his students and colleagues for his contributions to the school and the region.

He joined the nine finalists from other countries vying for the award that comes with a $1 million prize.

The awarding ceremony for the 2021 Global Teacher Prize will be held virtually on November 10, 2021.

“Being in the Top 10 is something I did not expect. There are so many teachers with high qualifications and great accomplishments, so many of us are clueless as to who will make it to the list,” Acar said.

Acar had a comfortable teaching post in a university but was searching for a greater purpose. In 2016, he went to STEC-SHS, a small school without a science laboratory.

With his perseverance, he trained his students, used his connections to universities to link his school to laboratories that they can use to practice, and developed teaching modules, textbooks, worksheets and learning resources replicated by 10 SHS.

His students won in national and international science competitions.

“I draw inspiration from the students and the value of resilience. I should never give up because of this pandemic. This did not cripple me from giving my best in teaching. The platform may have changed to online but a motivated teacher will always find a way to rise to the occasion,” Acar shared.

Acar plans to build a Global Teacher Prize Learning Hub if he wins. He also plans to get a school bus for students.