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Briton wins $60k prize for 'inspirational, outstanding' teaching

Dubai - The Briton who has been teaching for 11 years, was nominated by peers, and chosen by a judging panel from the over 50 Gems schools in the UAE.

It was a perfect gift for 33-year-old Dubai teacher Luke Oung on the eve of the World Teacher's Day as he was declared the most outstanding and inspiring teacher from among 44 other nominees from the Gems UAE network.
The English teacher from Cambridge International School - Dubai was declared the winner of the third annual Mariamma Varkey Award for Inspirational and Outstanding Teaching at GEMS at a red-carpet event held at GEMS World Academy - Dubai on Thursday evening.
Winning a whopping Dh220,200 ($60,000), the Briton who has been teaching for 11 years, was nominated by peers, and chosen by a judging panel from the over 50 Gems schools in the UAE. The ceremony aimed to shine the spotlight on the teaching profession saw a total of five teachers awarded across five categories, with cash prizes totalling Dh570,000.
Talking about the honour of being conferred with this prestigious title, Oung said it is an award he would like to dedicate to his family - wife, two kids and mother - who supported him all throughout by managing without him on a lot of weekends. "This is a reward for my family for their sacrifices. My wife is also a teacher at Gems school and she mostly manages my two very young kids when I am away many weekends and evenings."
Oung said it is important for teachers to step outside classrooms and experience life with students outside the classrooms. Oung not only manages the debate team in his school but also co-manages the UAE national debate team as well.
Talking about his passion for teaching, Oung said it was his parents who inspired him to take up this profession.
"My mother was a former vice-principal at Gems and father was a police officer, who later took to teaching and reforming the disaffected students. My parents' experiences as teachers and the love, respect and adulation I saw their students gave them, inspired me to take up teaching as a profession."
Giving his teaching mantra, Oung said: "Teach students how to apply their knowledge in their daily life. Take them outside the classrooms and let them experience life and have fun. Teach them to have faith in their own ability and faith in taking risks."
Dino Varkey, chief executive officer, GEMS Education, said: "Our teachers are our most prized assets, and the Mariamma Varkey Award is our way of recognising and celebrating the truly remarkable things they do day in and day out. Passionate, dedicated educators, they are empowering and inspiring our students through their work, selflessly facilitating and accelerating the development and growth of youth across the UAE."
Apart from Oung, four other teachers were awarded Dh88,080 ($24,000) each across a number of categories. Katrina Hansen from GEMS United School won the 'Early and Primary Years' award, while Rachael Parkinson from GEMS Wellington Academy - Al Khail received the award in the 'Secondary Years' category. The 'Inclusion' award was handed to Faith Fauchelle from GEMS Royal Dubai School, and Rayan Safi-Harb from GEMS World Academy - Abu Dhabi was honoured with the 'Arabic and Islamic' award.
saman@khaleejtimes.com