Ministry of Education and GEMS Education launch UAE national teacher’s award
The Ministry of Education (MoE) under the directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler or Dubai, has recently launched the first UAE National award for teachers in cooperation with the GEMS Education Group.
This award is considered the highest in the region in terms of value, as AED 1 million will be granted to the winning teacher. The exceptional recognition touches on all aspects teachers’ personalities and the various roles they play in society, as well as their influence in raising the educational levels of students and the professional’s standards.
The accolade highlights the pivotal role that teachers play in social development and will be given to the best Emirati teacher based on positive academic results, the ability to raise the academic performance of students, the appreciation and respect granted by society for achievements, as well as exceptional actions within and beyond the scholastic year.
H.E. Minister of Education Hussein Bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi reaffirmed the importance of the teaching profession as one of the noblest professions and a corner stone of the state. H.E. Al Hammadi noted that teachers are essential in developing an outstanding generation both academically and in terms of UAE values, and that they are crucial to cultivating individuals that are innovative, nationalistic, proud of who they are, and are strong believers in their capacities as leaders to achieve the objectives of national development. As such, he noted that this profession is more than an occupation and is an upright calling and a great treasure to society.
The Minister added that the educational profession is of high importance and has been given great attention by H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and his brother H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum. This attention stems from the great appreciation and respect they have for the role that teachers play in building future generations and enabling Emirati youths to take over leadership roles and continue with the developmental roadmap as well as sustain the achievements and heritage of the country.
H.E. stated that a teacher is considered as the backbone of education and the most important component of the educational system. The principal aim of education lies within the teacher who is responsible for providing effective guidance in a creative and innovative manner. He noted that the teacher is the foundation of change and is a wellspring of knowledge, noting that if the teacher is well-versed in his area of expertise then the fruit will be reflected positively in the educational process as a whole.
H.E. added that this award comes as part of national efforts to enhance productivity, develop the positive aspects of educators, and encourage UAE teachers to work diligently and actively participate in the pursuit of innovation. It also aims to commend educators who pioneer creative teaching methods, consolidate efforts with the educational sector, and who take their role in formulating values among students beyond the educational arena into the cultural and social aspects of their pupils’ lives.
H.E. Al Hammadi also stated that he hopes the award will be an important step in pushing the educational system forward and placing teachers in their rightly deserved place. He also hopes the award will foster appreciation for teachers on a personal and professional level so that it may serve as a form of encouragement in their work and that they will in turn serve as examples to other teachers.
He further affirmed that the Ministry is committed to continuously supporting teachers and considers them as partners in the developmental progress, as well as key influencers in the educational domain. As such the Ministry has created a Teachers Council which will be tasked with participating in all decisions, planning, and improvements within the sector. He also reaffirmed that teachers are essential components in most of the initiatives and long-term programs set by the Ministry.
Sunny Farki, Chairman of the Board and Founder of GEMS Group Education said, “Teachers play an important and effective role in education and in appreciation of this we decided to launch the UAE National Teachers’ Award, which aims to shed light on the exceptional achievements of educators and their positive impact in enhancing the well-being of the state and its citizens.”
He added that this is the perfect time for teachers to be proud of their position given the developments that are being witnessed in education within the state and the efforts being taken by those responsible for the sector so that the educational profession can take its well-deserved position and be appreciated for the value that it plays in society. He explained that the award is a reflection of the leadership’s commitment to provide a strong infrastructure for the educational system.
According to the award guidelines, nominees must be role models in terms of participation as well as professional, social, and cultural achievements. The teacher must also be a positive example who encourages others to join the education profession by portraying a good picture of the field and its noble aims.
The recognition will be open to all teachers in all UAE schools at both the public and private levels. This includes schools under the Ministry of Education and the Abu Dhabi Education Council education and technical application, who are currently teaching students in all levels starting from December until the 31st according to the award website.
When the period for receiving applications is over, 21 teachers will be shortlisted and from that pool the winning teacher will be chosen following the assessment of an esteemed panel of judges composed of notable personalities within the educational and governmental sectors in the UAE. The shortlisted teachers will be sent to the most prestigious international educational institutions to participate in a special developmental training program. The winning teacher will be announced during the government summit in February.
The public can nominate their teacher of choice through the website, and teachers who would like to nominate themselves can fill out an application form. For other individuals to nominate a teacher, they must write a summary about what makes this teacher special from others and email to the designated address. Teachers who nominate themselves will also have to write their justifications.
Teachers who nominate themselves will need to have recommendations from their principals as well as two other people who can testify to their achievements. These testimonials can be videos explaining their exceptional role in the academic profession and beyond which can be prepared by students, colleagues, principals, and other members of society. Nominated teachers should have at least three (3) years of experience.
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27/11/2016
