GEMS Education hosts the region’s largest teacher induction day as 1,800 new teachers join its ranks

The event was held at Atlantis, The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, serves as an opportunity for the new joiners to hear from GEMS’ senior leadership team and educationalists about the group’s core values and achievements.

By far the region’s biggest private K-12 education provider and employer, GEMS will be educating more than 127,000 students of 176 nationalities in total who will attend its 43 schools in the UAE, staffed by some 17,000 highly qualified and experienced teachers from 115 countries boosted by the new intake.

Many of the new hires have relocated from abroad, chiefly from the UK, the US and India, and are now settling into life in the UAE and their new school communities. Among the new joiners are five new principals who will be taking the helm at schools in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Fujairah.

Founder of GEMS Education, Sunny Varkey, spoke to the audience of new teachers about his family’s vision and ambition, and reminded the new teachers that they are now part of the group’s illustrious, evolving story. He also highlighted GEMS For Life, the group’s unique programme that combines bespoke internship opportunities, university scholarships and relations, and alumni networking plus loyalty scheme benefits.

“I am so excited to meet all of you – the new teachers of GEMS Education who are a cornerstone of our organisation. And right now, your role could not be more important. It is teachers that build a bridge from the present to the future, taking us from where we are to where we want to be, turning our dreams into reality. It is teachers who bring hope. It is teachers who bring opportunity. It is teachers who bring self-respect.”

Dino Varkey, GEMS Education Group CEO, said: “I am delighted to welcome our new teachers to the GEMS Education family today, as they embark upon their exciting new careers with us. Every year, I am impressed and inspired by the outstanding calibre of teachers that join our ranks. At GEMS, we employ some of the world’s most highly skilled, passionate, and forward-thinking education professionals. Our teachers are motivated by the GEMS vision to ensure that every student reaches their full potential, and every one of the 1,800 new hires is totally committed to that goal. I wish all our new joiners an excellent start to the new academic year starting on Monday (29 August).”

GEMS Awareness Day completes a week of school-based engagement activities, as well as cultural awareness training.

Jade Collinson, a foundation stage teacher who has relocated from the UK and joined GEMS Wellington Academy – Al Khail (WEK), said: “The start of my career at GEMS has been brilliant. The process from being successful at interview in October to arriving in Dubai last week has been outstanding. Nothing has been too much trouble for the team at WEK, and I’ve felt very much at ease around the whole transition. The school holds very similar values and beliefs about a child’s education as I do, and I’m excited to delve deeper into this and continue my professional development in such a supportive environment.”

The new intake of teachers spans the full range of year groups from kindergarten to post-16, and cover British, IB, US and Indian curricula.