UAE: Pakistani teacher shares secret to bringing out the best in every student

UAE: Pakistani teacher shares secret to bringing out the best in every student

The expat, who has dedicated her life to teaching for the past 19 years, was surprised with a special award for her contributions

Published: Thu 6 Oct 2022, 7:20 PM

For Pakistani teacher Suneela Bukhari Salman Chaudhry, it's not enough to inspire and shape the personalities of students. "You have to be their friend, too," she told Khaleej Times.

Suneela is one of the three outstanding educators in Abu Dhabi who were surprised with a special award on World Teachers' Day on Wednesday. The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek) held an impromptu ceremony to honour them, presenting them with a bouquet of flowers and a balloon.

"I felt like a princess," Suneela said, as she recalled the moment she received the award. “The way they surprised me with a sudden visit to my school was so overwhelming. It was an experience of a lifetime being appreciated for my dedication to this profession."

The expat, an English teacher at Islamiya English School Abu Dhabi, has dedicated her life to students for the past 19 years.

Speaking about her profession, Suneela said a good teacher is like a candle—"it consumes itself to light the way for others".

“I feel it’s a great responsibility," she said. "I