Palestinian Teacher Wins $1 Million Global Prize

A Palestinian teacher, who grew up in a refugee camp, has beaten 8,000 other applicants from around the world to win a US $1 million prize for her excellence in teaching.

The Global Teacher Prize was awarded to Hanan al-Hroub, a primary school teacher in the West Bank city of al-Bireh, at a ceremony in Dubai.

The ruler of the United Arab Emirates city, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented to prize, and al-Hroub’s name was announced by Pope Francis.

The head of the Catholic church talked about the necessity of education and teachers for children who live in war zones.

"I feel amazing and I still can't believe that the Pope said my name," al-Hroub told The Associated Press. "For an Arab, Palestinian teacher to talk to the world today and to reach the highest peak in teaching could be an example for teachers around the world."

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The Palestinian teacher will use the prize money, she says, for scholarships for students who want to become teachers.

As al-Hroub collected her award, Palestinians in the audience displayed their country's flag and some chanted, fists pumping in the air, "With our souls, our blood, we sacrifice for you Palestine."

The award comes amid fraught pressure from Israel on Palestine, with at least 179 Palestinians killed within the last five months.

Al-Hroub teaches her students to renounce violence, and created a book called “We Play and Learn” al-Hroub focusing on the importance of playing, trust, respect, honesty and literacy.

According to her biography on the Global Teacher Prize website, Hanan "grew up in the Palestinian refugee camp, Bethlehem, where she was regularly exposed to acts of violence. She went into primary education after her children were left deeply traumatized by a shooting incident they witnessed on their way home from school."