Queen Rania honours winners of 10th Teacher Award, 4th Principal Award

AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Monday honoured the winners of the 10th Teacher Award and the 4th Principal Award cycles.

In a ceremony held by the Association of Queen Rania Al Abdullah Award for Excellence in Education (QRAEE), which coincides with QRAEE’s 10th anniversary, the Queen highlighted the importance of recognising teachers’ roles in building a more resilient and tolerant future generation, according to a statement from her office. 

“Ten years ago, I launched the Teachers’ Award to start a tradition of recognising outstanding educators whose skills reflect deeply on our success as a nation,” noted Her Majesty, chairperson of the QRAEE board of trustees.

“I launched it for another reason, which few of you may not know… as it troubled me back then to learn that teachers felt unappreciated in our nation’s journey. And that is when I said: the era of teachers is back; believing in their role, I hoped they would reclaim their status and, once again, become a point of reference for all,” Queen Rania said.

“Respecting teachers is a public social responsibility that is rooted first within homes, and then in classrooms, where capable teachers can earn students’ respect with their knowledge and experience,” she underscored.  

“Students must realise the importance of education before going to school; they must realise that between their present and a promising future lies a school, an education, and a teacher.” 

Referring to the pivotal roles that educators play in the face of turbulent times, the Queen said, “we need our teachers more than ever... Our future depends on the next generation, their education, and the values they instil in them.”

“Our young generation is being exposed to harmful new ideologies that neither our generation, nor previous ones, were familiar with — until today,” she asserted. 

Queen Rania went on to explain how discrimination is like a disease that takes advantage of vulnerable communities and spreads fear, adding that “minds haunted by fear have no room for dreams. What future is one without dreams, hopes and ambitions?”

Stressing the need to prepare children to face alien ideologies, Queen Rania said: “We have to empower and raise them on the values of diversity and dialogue that Jordanians have passed on through the generations.”

“We should teach them that they are part of a global community, one with more similarities than differences. Let’s teach children values that help them thrive, not ones that isolate and instil fear of the other,” Her Majesty added.

The Queen concluded the speech by reaffirming that teachers are the country’s best chance at preparing a generation that will secure a better future for Jordan, congratulating educators for their commitment to this end. 

After the speech, Her Majesty honoured the 25 winners, presenting prizes and plaques to 15 teachers who won in five categories, as well as 10 principals who won the distinguished principal award in two categories, the statement said.

During the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Mohammad Thneibat expressed the educational community’s gratitude for this initiative to Her Majesty, and thanked the educators for their persistent efforts in this noble profession. 

Also speaking at the event, QRAEE Executive Director Lubna Touqan thanked all partners and entities that contributed to the award’s success, which include the Social Development Ministry and the National Council for Family Affairs. 

She expressed her gratitude to Queen Rania, noting that “appreciating, honouring and motivating the teacher to disseminate a culture of excellence and creativity [has] started to leave its marks in the field of education”. 

Touqan also voiced hope that these awards would expand in the years to come. 

Educators and their families, senior officials, QRAEE representatives, private and public sector sponsors as well as media personalities attended the ceremony, held at the Palace of Culture-Al Hussein Youth City and sponsored by Zain, the statement said.