Muin overcomes disability to inspire students Muin Hijazi was nine years old when his life changed forever. During the Arab-Israeli hostilities of June 1967, in which the West Bank and Gaza came under Israeli control, the explosion of an artillery shell near him led to the loss of his arm. With the added cost of caring for the injured Muin, the family’s already-difficult financial situation began to deteriorate rapidly. Despite his disability, Muin insisted on getting an education and going to university. He joined UNRWA as an elementary school teacher on his graduation in 1980, and soon began to receive plaudits for his dedication to the job. For the last three years, he has been based at UNRWA’s elementary boys’ school at Beach (Al Shati) camp in northern Gaza, where his class enjoys a typical pass rate of over 90 per cent. Motivating students and staff alike Muin uses IT as much as possible in his teaching – quite a challenge in blockaded Gaza, where teaching resources are scarce. School principal offers praise for his teaching style, saying that the effect on both students and fellow teachers is positive. “Muin is a very dedicated teacher. “His classroom is full of activities that allow children to be interactive, and his teaching style motivates other teachers to do their best. “Not only is Muin dedicated, but he is creative and patient: his students strive to do their best in the classroom.” Ever the learner himself, Muin is now studying in his spare time for a master’s degree in Educational Management.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Oct 2013 22:24:55 +0000