Charlize Theron, Brian Lara, Priyanka Chopra and more to attend Dubai's Global Teacher Prize

They will be joined by athlete Mo Farah, actor Taron Egerton and Suits stars at the event that treats teachers like celebrities

Charlize Theron will fly into Dubai for Sunday night's Global Teacher Prize - an event that awards Dh3.67 million to a deserving educator from anywhere in the world. AFP

The list of celebrity attendees for the annual Global Teacher Prize in Dubai, which takes place on Sunday March 18 this year, has been announced.

The famous faces that will fly in to help celebrate the world's most deserving educators include South African actress Charlize Theron, Bollywood-Hollywood star Priyanka Chopra, cricket legend Brian Lara, Kingsman actor Taron Egerton, Suits actresses Gina Torres and Sarah Rafferty and British athletics legend Sir Mo Farah.

Read more: Why is Bill Gates thanking Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid?

Suits actresses Gina Torres and Sarah Rafferty with their former colleague Meghan Markle: 

Britain's most successful distance runner Mo Farah will be there, or rather, Sir Mohamed Farah:

As will Kingsman actor Taron Egerton: 

And Bollywood/Hollywood crossover star Priyanka Chopra: 

The Global Teacher Prize was established to give recognition to a teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the teaching profession. It was developed by Sunny Varkey, Founder and Executive Chairman of the GEMS Education Group. Mr Varkey commissioned a study in 2013 to explore global attitudes towards teaching. The study showed that the professions' status had dropped in people's estimations - the Global Teacher Prize was developed in an effort to raise the profession's profile.

The prize-giving ceremony takes place on the final day of Dubai's Global Education and Skills Forum, which this year falls on March 18.

Past winners

The inaugural prize was presented to Nancie Atwell in 2015 by former US President Bill Clinton, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sunny Varkey. Ms Atwell, 63, an English teacher and founder of the Centre of Teaching and Learning in Maine, donated all her prize money to the school, which is a demonstration school (an educational establishment used for training future teachers.)

The winner of the 2016 award was Palestinian teacher Hanan Al Hroub from Samiha Khalil High School in Al Bireh, Palestine. Ms Al Hroub grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp where she was regularly exposed to violence. She entered primary education after her children were left traumatised by a shooting they witnessed on their way home from school. Her approach to teaching inspired her colleagues to review the way they teach.

Last year's winner was Canadian teacher Maggie MacDonnell from Ikusik School in Salluit, northern Quebec. She was given the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize for her role in improving school attendance rates and girls' registration at the school, located in the Inuit region of Nunavik.