Hanan Al Hroub, from Bethlehem in the West Bank, was awarded the Global Teacher Prize at a recent ceremony in Dubai, UAE. Ms. Hroub, an elementary teacher who grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp, received a $1 million prize recognizing the “outstanding contribution” she has made to her profession.
Announced via a special video message broadcast into the Global Teacher Prize ceremony taking place at the Global Education and Skills Forum (GESF) 2016 in Dubai – Pope Francis said that part of education was teaching children how to play in order to learn how to be social and “learn the joy of life.”
“I would like to congratulate the teacher Hanan Al Hroub for winning this prestigious prize due to the importance that she gave to the role of play in a child’s education,” Francis said.
A delighted Ms. Hroub said: “I did it, I won!” Ms. Hroub accepted the award “as a win for all teachers in general and Palestinian teachers in particular.”
“Believe in your ideas, work on them, convince people of your ideas, challenge the whole world, convince people of your ideas so you can spread them and you will find yourself here,” she said
The Global Teacher Prize was set up to recognize one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession as well as to shine a spotlight on the important role teachers’ play in society. By unearthing thousands of stories of heroes that have transformed young people’s lives, the prize hopes to bring to life the exceptional work of millions of teachers all over the world.
Ms. Hroub grew up in the Bethlehem refugee camp, and was regularly exposed to violence. She went into primary education after her own children were left traumatized from witnessing a shooting on their way home from school.
Ms. Hroub promotes the slogan “no to violence” and uses a specialist approach with children that she developed herself, and has written about in her book, We Play We Learn. It involves developing trusting, respectful and affectionate relationships, encouraging youngsters to work together, and rewarding positive behavior.
She is planning to spend the money on helping students and teachers around the world to help them progress in their education and careers.
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Source: Global Education & Skills Forum