Kenyan misses out on teachers award

A Kenyan teacher has failed to secure Sh100 million Global Teachers Prize award that has been won by a Palestinian national.

Ms Hanan Al Hroub, a secondary school teacher, was crowned the victor at a gala ceremony in Dubai.

Pope Francis, who announced the winner via a video link on Sunday saying “I would like to congratulate the teacher Hanan Al Hroub for winning this prestigious prize due to the importance that she gave to the ‘playing’ part in the education of the children.

“A child has the right to play. Part of education is to teach children how to play because you learn how to be social through games as well as learn the joy of life."

Mr Ayub Mohamud was among the 10 finalists thus becoming the second Kenyan to become a finalist for the prestigious prize.

Through the subjects he teaches at Eastleigh High School, business and Islamic studies, Mr Mohamud has been sensitising his students against extremism and youth radicalization.

He believes that the classroom can be used as one of the avenues of combating terrorism.

(Read: Kenyan beaten to Global Teacher Prize)

The prestigious award was established by Varkey Foundation -- the charitable arm of the Gems international education firm -- and it is in its second year.

The inaugural winner was US teacher Nancie Atwell in 2015. She beat Kenya's Jackline Jumbe-Kahura.

It is presented annually to an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to their profession.

"The prize serves to underline the importance of educators and the fact that, throughout the world, their efforts deserve to be recognised and celebrated. It seeks to acknowledge the impacts of the very best teachers – not only on their students but on the communities around them," reads the award's blog page.