ABU DHABI // Two teachers from the UAE have been short-listed for the US$1 million Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize.
Emirati Sheikha Al Shehhi and Rohan Roberts made the final 50 out of 20,000 teachers from 179 countries to enter the contest.
The $1 million (Dh3.67m) prize, the largest of its kind, is awarded annually under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
Ms Al Shehhi teaches English at Al Dhait Girls Secondary School. She has educated her students on the principles of global citizenship, particularly in environmental matters, through her initiative “Reducing Carbon Footprint”.
She has received numerous awards, the most important of which is the Khalifa Award for Education.
Mr Roberts teaches the honours programme and astronomy at the Gems Wellington Academy Silicon Oasis in Dubai. He also oversees the futures curriculum in three Gems schools in Dubai: First Point, Modern Academy and Wellington Academy Silicon Oasis, reported Aletihad, the Arabic language sister paper of The National.
Last year’s prize was won by Hanan Al Hroub for developing her “play and learn” technique to help traumatised Palestinian primary school children in Ramallah.
The global award is open to teachers who work with children between the ages of 5 and 18. Teachers who are part-time are also eligible, as are teachers of online courses.
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