Dubai: The search is on for the world’s best teacher — with $1 million (Dh3.67 million) up for grabs for the lucky winner.
Sunny Varkey, founder of Varkey Gems Foundation who announced the award in October, told Gulf News in an exclusive interview the aim is to boost the status of teachers as they are society’s ‘real stars.’
Held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, nominations for the award will open in March during the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai, chaired by former US president Bill Clinton.
When Varkey was asked why the prize money was so huge he said that the award aimed to change the negative way the teaching profession is perceived among some societies.
“The prize was borne out of the results of the Global Teacher Status Index, which found that teachers face a diminished status in many societies. It is ironic because few people have the level of influence on our future as teachers do, and yet teachers are afforded such a low status compared with movie stars and celebrities. So the size of this award is meant to highlight that teachers are real stars and deserve just as much attention and adulation.”
Varkey added that he hopes the award will get people from across the world to cheer on teachers representing their countries, in a national show of pride in teachers and education.
In the spotlight
“If we can turn teachers nominated for the award into stars, every one of them will be in the spotlight. After all we can at least begin to elevate the standing of teachers and say, ‘hey, they are important too’.”
An international jury of experts will decide the winner and the process will be audited by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, a professional services firm.
The Varkey Gems Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Gems Education, an international education company, which is family-owned and has been operating for more than 50 years by the Varkey family. So when asked which teachers he looked up to it was no surprise that Varkey said his parents.
“I look up to my parents who came to the UAE more than a half century ago to serve the community. They educated many generations of expatriates in this country and have had a dramatic impact on the community.”
Varkey added that although he is currently focused on the award he does plan to fulfil the foundation’s ultimate goal, which is continuing to elevate the role of teachers in our societies.
“It is important for everyone to give back to society. The more I can give back, the more successful I will count myself. Our service to society is the ultimate measure of who we are as people,” he said.
