Abu Dhabi teacher among 50 shortlisted for global teacher prize worth $1 million

More than 10,000 educators were nominated for the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2019

British teacher Andria Zafirakou receives the 2018 Global Teacher Prize from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Karim Sahib / AFP

An Abu Dhabi teacher who dedicated his life to improving learning through non-traditional methods has been shortlisted for the best teacher in the world prize.

Rashed Hashem, an Emirati physical education and health teacher at Al Moatasem Public School for boys in Baniyas, has been included in the top 50 shortlist for the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2019.

British school teacher Andria Zafirakou won the coveted prize last year for her work with disadvantaged pupils in London, many of whom had English as a second language. The award is now in its fifth year and is worth US$1 million.

The teachers who have been shortlisted for the prize have been selected from over 10,000 nominations from 179 countries.

Rashed Hashem works in a school in a relatively poor Emirati area and his contribution to the profession has been through equipping non-traditional learning environments to improve pupil's learning levels through mobility.

Mr Hashem used his experience in sports to help pupils with disabilities.

He also established innovative non-traditional educational laboratories at the Zayed Centre for the Mind Industry, the first educational centre of its kind in the Middle East.

He is the first Emirati teacher appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador by the United Nations.

The top 50 shortlist has teacher from 39 countries, including India, Nepal, Poland, Colombia, Palestine.

The winner will be announced at the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai on March 24.

Three UK teachers are also on the shortlist for the award. The list includes Emma Russo, a physics teacher from London, Andrew Moffat, an assistant headteacher from Birmingham and Jimmy Rotherham from Bradford.

The Global Teacher Prize was set up to recognise an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession, as well as to shed light on the important role teachers play in society.

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