A Saudi educator, renowned for his charitable efforts and his commitment to teaching inmates, has been awarded the prestigious Global Teacher Prize, which comes with a $1 million reward. Mansour al-Mansour received this honor during the World Government Summit held in Dubai, where global leaders gather annually.
Al-Mansour, who teaches at the Prince Saud bin Jalawi School in al-Ahsa, is also an author deeply involved in his local community. His initiatives include a vital program that provides air conditioning maintenance services during the extremely hot summer months in Saudi Arabia. With the prize money, he plans to build a school for orphans, emphasizing the importance of education for these vulnerable children. He noted that while many people show compassion for orphans by providing food and water, little attention is paid to their educational needs.
“The focus on education is crucial,” al-Mansour explained. “Through my research, I found that orphans often have less access to education, so I wanted to change that.”
The Global Teacher Prize is awarded by the Varkey Foundation, founded by Sunny Varkey, who established GEMS Education, a significant operator of private schools in the Middle East. Al-Mansour is the first teacher from the Gulf region to receive this award since its inception in 2015.
Al-Mansour shared that he is currently involved in a project called “Life Skills,” which helps students develop essential abilities such as communication and financial literacy. “We’ve seen great results, with some students even starting their own small businesses,” he stated. Additionally, he teaches reading and writing to prisoners, with many experiencing reduced sentences due to their improved skills.
Past winners of the Global Teacher Prize have come from diverse backgrounds, showcasing a range of educational contributions worldwide.
GEMS Education, the organization behind the award, is one of the largest private school networks globally, thriving in regions like Dubai, where a significant portion of the student population consists of children from expatriate families. With a growing demand for elite education, GEMS plans to open a new school aimed at the children of wealthy families relocating to Dubai, featuring state-of-the-art facilities and ambitious fee structures.
Through these efforts, Mansour al-Mansour exemplifies the potential of educational outreach and community service, proving that dedicated individuals can make a notable difference in the lives of many.
