Dubai Instagram contest offers a chance to thank your teacher

Dubai's education regulator is calling on students, parents and educators to share their gratitude for their teachers as part of World Teachers' Day celebrations on October 5.

A spokesperson from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) told 7DAYS: “The KHDA is running an Instagram competition asking students, parents and teachers to upload a video saying why they appreciate their teacher, past or present.”

The online competition, which begins today, is open to “everyone who has ever had a teacher”. Participants must have an Instagram account. Each post must include the @KHDADubai Instagram handle and the hashtag #IAppreciate.

​The KHDA’s online competition is open to ‘anyone who has ever had a teacher’
The KHDA’s online competition is open to ‘anyone who has ever had a teacher’

“They [participants] can give examples or tell

a story that will help to convey their message. The videos can be in English or Arabic, and should be up to 15 seconds long,” the representative said.

Teachers across Dubai welcomed the initiative and said they were looking forward to viewing the messages online.

“This is a very thoughtful, encouraging idea,” fourth-grade teacher Anubha Aswani told 7DAYS. “Sometimes, because of our hectic school schedules, we don’t have the time to stop and reflect on what happened on a particular day at school. But you’d be surprised at how kids remember even the smallest things.

“A student who could never spell the word ‘receive’ sent me a touching email when he was graduating from university. He told me he never forgot the rhyme I shared with him about how it’s always ‘i before e except after c’. It might be a small thing, but on days like that you know why you’re doing what you’re doing, even if you can make twice the money doing something else.”

Kindergarten teacher Alison Howard told 7DAYS that although she did not expect her tiny tots to take part in the competition, she couldn’t wait to see the videos.

She said: “It doesn’t matter if the video is about me, or my colleagues. Every single video in the collection would be special to all of us who are part of this profession. It’s what we live for.” The closing date for entries is Thursday, October 3. Judges will watch each video and choose winning entries based on the stories they tell, and the winners will be announced via Instagram and Twitter on October 6. For info, email socialmedia@khda.gov.ae.

megha@7days.ae

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