Dubai: When 55-year-old Emirati, Salma Hilal Al Mansouri, got married as a teenager — at a time when it was culturally unacceptable for girls to get an education — she would not have believed that three decades later, she would receive an award for educational excellence.
The grandmother of 10 was the oldest winner honoured on Wednesday at the 17th edition of the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Academic Performance award ceremony, which took place at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Salma, who is in grade eight (adult education) at the Madinat Zayed Centre for Adult Education, was one of the 264 winners who were awarded by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, after shinning in their academic and extra-curricular activities.
“I decided to continue my education after all these years because I wanted to know more about the world. I wanted to understand and read the Holy Quran better,” said Salma.
Salma said she was able to outshine her peers because she had a lot of time on her hands to study as all her children were married.
“I also had the full support of my husband and children,” she added. Salma believes that she won the prize because she did not only excel academically but she also participated in a lot of heritage events in schools and festivals.
The winning students were given the Distinguished Student cup, certificate and a cash prize of Dh20,000 to encourage them to continue pursuing their education with diligence.
Shaikh Hamdan congratulated the winners at the ceremony and also announced that the award will be transformed into a programme.
“Starting this year, we are going to take the steps needed to transform the award into a programme that aims to encourage and foster talented students and expand our educational offerings and services, ” said Shaikh Hamdan.
Another student who shone in the crowd of winners was 12-year-old Emirati Rawda Bin Owqad Al Merri, who suffers from a physical disability and was the first student to win in the special needs category.
“I call on all students with special needs to work hard and win the award to show the world that we are just as capable,” she said.
Rawda dreams of becoming a fashion designer. The fifth grader, who goes to Sa’ada school, is also involved in a lot of physical extra-curricular activities despite being in a wheelchair.
“I am a horse rider and I love swimming. I want to thank my parents who stood by me and helped me shine despite all challenges.”
The students who won the award attend various public and private schools in the country.
Participants hail from across the Arab world and include teachers, academically distinguished families, research groups, and social and guidance counsellors.
The winners were picked by judging panel comprising 56 people. They first looked through all the applicants, and then conducted interviews along with school and university visits.
Indian winner Karthik Satheesh Kumar, 12, who attends the Millennium School, expressed happiness that the award was a reflection of his commitment towards education.
“My hard work over the years has certainly helped me win this award — be it in academics, co-curricular activities or my contributions to the society I live in,” he said.
