She fell in love with teaching at a very young age. Egyptian teacher Rania Zaki was overjoyed to learn that she had been awarded the Canadian Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Teaching for 2021.
The award is given to teachers who have made a visible impact on their communities.
“Having my work and ideas acknowledged in that manner strengthened my belief that teaching is the best job in the world,” Zaki told The Egyptian Mail.
“You get to inspire the next generation – to build their confidence, make them see their value, get them excited to become someone who will make a difference in the world,” Zaki added.
Zaki will receive her award in a ceremony at her school in Toronto but the date has not been set yet.
Immediately after being told that she had won the award, Rania wrote a thank-you letter to Cottingham Junior Public School, saying that she would not have won the award without the support of her students and their parents.
“I was in tears when I read letters by parents nominating me for the award. One of the letters was 28 pages long! Each page was a tribute to all the things that I thought would go unnoticed. Yet there they were in black-and-white — every little detail that had brought a smile on a child’s face,” Zaki said.
Zaki draws out her students’ creativity while encouraging them to take the initiative to develop leadership skills. She always stresses the importance of peer teaching and invites her students to share what they have learned with their classmates.
Zaki’s classroom is a space to celebrate cultural differences as she makes her students aware of social issues and encourages them to get involved with charity work.
“I have always known I wanted to be a teacher. I was so inspired by the educators around me that I wanted to become just like them.”
Zaki trod a busy professional path when her family emigrated from Cairo to Toronto in 2012 to continue her master’s in teaching at the Ontario Institute for Educational Studies at the University of Toronto.
“My child had learning difficulties and we wanted to provide him special education.”
The original plan was that Zaki would stay for two years while she completed her MEd at the University of Toronto.
During that time, if her child improved academically, they would apply for permanent residency. Not only did he improve, he also excelled. So their initial two-year stay turned into ten years in Canada.
Zaki’s own teaching career blossomed. On completing her master’s at the University of Toronto, she applied for a job as a supply teacher for the Toronto District School Board – one of the most competitive school boards in Canada.
“I was blessed with supportive teachers and school principals who saw value in my teaching methods. Within a couple years, I was taken on at Cottingham Junior Public School as a long-term occasional teacher, followed by a permanent full-time teacher.
“Being away from my beloved Egypt, family, and friends is one of the hardest experiences I have gone through. It has also brought me a lot to be grateful for.
“I hope to continue to represent my country and family in the best way possible.”
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