A Palestinian primary-school teacher who grew up in a refugee camp and educates her students about non-violence won a US$1 million prize for teaching excellence on Sunday, beating 8,000 other applicants from around the world.
Hanan al-Hroub, a primary-school teacher in the West Bank city of al-Bireh, just outside Ramallah, was awarded the second annual Global Teacher Prize during a ceremony in Dubai.
Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented the prize to al-Hroub, but her name was announced by Pope Francis in a video message after he talked about the importance of education and teachers, especially for children who grow up amid war.
Photo: AP
“I feel amazing and I still can’t believe that the pope said my name,” al-Hroub said. “For an Arab, Palestinian teacher to talk to the world today and to reach the highest peak in teaching could be an example for teachers around the world.”
She said that she would use the prize money to create scholarships for students who excel in order to encourage them to choose careers in teaching.
Israeli officials blame Palestinian leaders and social media for inciting the violence, while Palestinian leaders say it is the product of frustration and despair after nearly 50 years of occupation.
As al-Hroub accepted her award, Palestinians in the audience waved their country’s flag and some chanted, fists pumping in the air, “With our souls, our blood, we sacrifice for you Palestine.”
In her acceptance speech, she reiterated her mantra of “No to violence” and stressed the importance of dialogue.
“The Palestinian teacher can talk to the world now. Hand in hand we can affect change and provide a safe education to provide peace,” she said.
Al-Hroub was among 10 finalists flown to Dubai to attend the ceremony. The nine other finalists are from Australia, Finland, India, Japan, Kenya, Pakistan, Britain and two from the US.
The Global Teacher Prize was established two years ago to recognize one teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession, employs innovative classroom practices and encourages others to join the teaching profession.
The award is presented by the Varkey Foundation. Its founder, Sunny Varkey, established the for-profit GEMS Education company, which has more than 130 schools around the world.
Al-Hroub’s official biography said she grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp in Bethlehem, where violence was a regular occurrence. She went into teaching after her children witnessed a shooting on their way home from school. That experience pushed her to think more about traumatized children and how classrooms can help. She developed a book called We Play and Learn focusing on the importance of playing, trust, respect, honesty and literacy.
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