Andria Zafirakou, a teacher at Alperton Community School in United Kingdom has emerged as the winner of the 2018 edition of the Global Teacher Prize Award.
The prize award was presented by the Vice President and the Prime Minister of United Arab Emirate (UAE) and ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rasheed Almaktoun at the completion of the 2018 Global Education Skill Forum (GESF) in Dubai.
Zafirakou emerges winner after defeating about 30,000 applicants, 50 nominees and 10 finalists across 173 countries of the world.
In a special congratulatory video message broadcast into the ceremony hall, UK Prime Minister Theresa May, said: "Being a great teacher requires resilience, ingenuity, and a generous heart. These are the qualities that you share with your students everyday. So thank you for all you have done and continue to do.
“I would also like to extend a huge thank you to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his support of the teaching profession and patronage of this prize.”
In her appreciative message, Zafirakou dedicated the award to her parents, husband, children and pupils she teaches at Alperton Community School.
“The community where I teach in Brent is beautifully diverse and indeed is probably one of the most multi-cultural communities in the world.
“It is also a community where many of our students unfortunately live in deprivation. They have tough lives. They live in crowded homes. They may not eat well because their lunch boxes are empty. Some have been forced to play truant because they share a kitchen with other families and cannot miss their allocated time slot to prepare the family dinner.
“These challenges sound like they come from the pages of a Dickens novel rather than 21st century Britain.
"Yet, it is amazing that whatever problems they are having at home, whatever is missing in their lives or causing them pain, our school is theirs. I know that if our school could open at 6am, there would be a queue of children wanting to come in at 5am. That is how phenomenal they are.
“We know that students who spend more time on the arts can become more successful at the rest of their studies too.
"But what I’m really interested in is something bigger. The power of art to move barriers and remove labels. The power of art to challenge misperceptions. The power of art to unleash potential.
"For my students, the arts provide a sanctuary, a place where they can safely express themselves and connect with their identity.
“Too often we neglect this power of the arts to actually transform lives, particularly in the poorest communities. That’s why today I call on students, teachers, celebrities, politicians, business leaders, artists, young and old, anyone in positions of power to join me in a campaign to protect and celebrate the arts," Zafirakou said.
Now in its fourth year, the US $1 million award is described as the largest prize of its kind.
Organisers said it was set up to recognize one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession as well as to shine a spotlight on the important role teachers play in society.