Taroudant - A Palestinian elementary teacher was awarded the 2016 Global Teacher Prize at a ceremony in Dubai on Sunday.
Hanan Al Hroub, from Bethlehem in the West Bank, who grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp, has won a $1 million prize in recognition of her "outstanding contribution" to the noble profession of teaching.
The Palestinian teacher came ahead of nominees from Japan, Canada, Kenya, the United States, United Kingdom, India, Australia and Finland.
Al Hroub, who uses largely games in her teaching methods, has detailed her approach in a book entitled “We Play and Learn.”
“I am proud to be a Palestinian female teacher standing on this stage,” she said.
The school teacher accepted the prize “as a win for all teachers in general and Palestinian teachers in particular,” sending an inspiring message to teachers all over the world.
"I tell all the teachers, whether they are Palestinian or around the world: 'Our job is humane, its goals are noble. We must teach our children that our only weapon is knowledge and education'."
Pope Francis, who announced via video conference the winner of the award, 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."
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"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.
After the name of Hanan Al Hroub as the Winner of the 2016 Global Teacher Prize was announced, thousands of people congratulated the Palestinian school teacher on Twitter for her outstanding contribution to education.
Congratulations to @Hanan_Hroub for winning the Global Teacher's Prize. Your dedication to traumatized children is an inspiration to all.
— Rania Al Abdullah (@QueenRania) March 13, 2016
In a statement, the president of Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize said he hoped Hroub’s story “will inspire those looking to enter the teaching profession and also shine a powerful spotlight on the incredible work teachers do all over Palestine and throughout the world every day.”
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