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UNRWA 2019 World Teachers’ Day

05 October 2019

On World Teachers Day 2019, UNRWA wishes to salute, in particular, its many daily paid teachers, many of whom have received  innovative induction training on teaching methods and practices upon appointment.

Ibthal Abu Libda, 24, is a student at the UNRWA Faculty of Educational Sciences (RMTC) and is implementing her graduate thesis on building English language skills of elementary school students. She has worked as an UNRWA English teacher for more than a year and is currently a substitute at an elementary school in Ramallah where she introduced an innovative approach to language learning through focused study of the alphabet and a reliance on simple self-designed tools like colourful cards and activity worksheets. “Our professors focused on developing teaching methods and comparing them to old ones, especially Mr. Osama Abul Baha, who helped me build my graduation thesis, as well as others. I am thankful because for each stage in my life, I had a number of influencers to guide me through my career and I am grateful to them all” Ibtihal said. “. . “I love my career and I feel I was born to be a teacher. I am not able to do any other job,” says Mohammad Qablawi, a fourth-grade teacher at the UNRWA Nahaf School in Jaramana Camp in Syria. Mohammed chose teaching as a career because he believes that his efforts towards his students can be translated into actions when seeing their progress and success in life. “My role model is my sixth-grade math teacher! He was a strong person, flexible and respectful. He promoted the value of education as a way of building our country and instilled the concept of homeland and love of the country in us,” says Mohammed.Mouayad Badwan(مؤيد بدوان) is a second-grade class teacher at UNRWA Palestine School. “When I was a student at UNRWA schools in Yarmouk, I admired the teachers who made learning more productive and followed methods that make teaching stimulating and engaging. A good teacher can inspire hope and instill a love of learning. My most memorable teachers were the Arabic and social studies teachers. Their creative teaching techniques inspired me. My passion in life is teaching and adding my part to raising a good Palestinian generation,” he says. Mouayed is passionate, enthusiastic and engaging. “Every time that I teach a lesson, I feel students are excited to learn more about the topic and become active learners.” Mouayad started his career as a teacher at the UNRWA temporary teaching points in the collective shelters for displaced refugees in 2016. “UNRWA set up teaching points to help slow learners and students who lost out on lessons or were from besieged areas take their national exams,” Mouayad recalls. 31-year-old Palestine refugee Lubna Ayoub has been working for UNRWA for four years as a daily paid teacher for third-grade students. Lubna loves her job and is proud to be inspired by her little students. She also feels joy every day she steps into her classroom. “I have chosen the career of teaching because it is one of the highest professions in life to build a mindful generation capable of taking responsibility and believing in building the future of my country,” Lubna says. Inspired by her loving Arabic teacher in grade five, she believes that a teacher is like a magical instrument to help students love their school and that she follows the steps of her role-model teacher in delivering information to the students.Dua’a Mohammad (دعاء محمد)is a daily paid fourth-grade class teacher at the UNRWA Palestine School in Damascus. “It is important to pursue a career one enjoys. I love my work. My father and mother helped shape and inspire my academic career. They were patient, helpful, caring, and giving to their students. From them I learned how to mentor students. I was also blessed with a great Arabic teacher when I was in 12th grade in school. I dreamt of becoming a school teacher ever since and of sharing my love of learning with my students.” With regard to the teacher training she has received, Dua’a says that, ”Students learn more and perform better when they actively engage with the information they are learning and by participating in activities in which they can learn from their peers. Teachers should be knowledgeable, devoted, and conscientious to make a difference in the lives of their students.”For Amal Nassar (أمل نصار) teaching is important contributions to improving the lives of children and to help them fulfill their potential. “It is a field filled with challenges. Teachers must be patient and understanding.” A second-grade teacher with a degree in Arabic literature, Amal joined UNRWA as a daily paid class teacher in 2016. “I am passionate about teaching languages and I have a passion for Arabic, in particular. My love of communication with children draws me to teaching,” she notes. Amal draws inspiration from her university professor’s diligence and direction: “I always enjoyed having him as my professor and I appreciate how approachable he was. It has always been my dream to become a teacher and now I am following that dream at the UNRWA school,” she says. Thirty-two year-old Ahmad Derbas, a class teacher for second-grade students in UNRWA Nahaf School says, “I feel that I am the boat that moves students from the bank of ignorance to the bank of knowledge when I see improvement in their grades and educational level and I feel that they are happy with their excellence. It is a wonderful student- teacher relationship that lasts for ages,” says Ahmad. His seventh-grade Arabic teacher has inspired Ahmad throughout his teaching career as he used to deal with his students as a friend and his lessons were fun. “When I first worked with UNRWA, I was trained on active learning strategies and punishment alternatives in addition to attending workshops on anti-bullying, which helped me deal with my students in a more professional way,” he says. “Maha Hamid, works as a daily paid teacher at the UNRWA al-Manara School in Nahr el Bared refugee camp in Lebanon. When I started working as an English teacher with UNRWA, I had inevitable fears, as one does when they embark on a new professional journey. The induction training provided ensured that I became familiar with the school, along with the Agency’s innovative teaching and learning methods. The training showed me how to encourage student participation and involvement in the learning process, assessment and evaluation. Through this, I learned how to make the classroom more inclusive, allowing all students to feel more welcome and involved, regardless of their needs and backgrounds.Aseel Abu-Mahfouz, works as a daily paid maths teacher at the Jofeh Elementary School in Amman, Jordan for two years. “In the beginning, the journey was expected to be hard, given that I am still very junior. But, it turned out to be a very joyful experience, especially thanks to the support provided by the school principal, Suhad Asfour. Ms. Suhad introduced me to new teaching methods and explained to me the duties and rights of daily paid teachers. She follows up on my performance and always encourages me to give my best.” Photo credit: Aseel Abu Mahfouz, daily paid Math teacher at Jofeh Elementary School in Amman-Jordan © 2019 UNRWA photo by Daniah Al BataynehWaseem Abu Karsh, is daily paid teacher at the UNRWA Zaitoon Preparatory Boys School “B”. © 2019 UNRWA Photo by Ibraheem Abu Osheba. “Time on the job does not ensure professional growth, and successful teachers are those who continue to develop throughout their professional lives. “UNRWA granted us the chance to receive training that enhanced my teaching skills with new and active learning strategies. I applied what I learned in my classes and share these methods with my colleagues,” she said.Nour Zein Al- Dein is a daily paid English teacher at the UNRWA Al- Daraj Elementary Co-Educational School in Gaza. “The most valuable source of information and experience that all teachers have is each other. Without our exchange of knowledge our growth is limited to our own perspectives. During my time at the school, Ms. Reda Thabet, the education specialist, has my role model and source of inspiration. Her passion for teaching is really encouraging. I learnt from her to be concerned about the quality of my work and to discuss and build on viewpoints other than mine”.

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