Dubai, April 19, 2009: GEMS students and teachers received eight H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cambridge Awards, 2009. The award recognises the outstanding academic achievements of secondary school students in the UAE in the June 2009 Cambridge examinations, and honours inspirational teachers.  

Ralph Tabberer, Chief of Schools, GEMS Education said,"We congratulate our students and teachers who have been honoured through this prestigious award. The receipt of these eight awards is another example of the commitment by GEMS Education to provide the highest quality of education."

Since its inception, 252 H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cambridge Awards have been presented in the UAE and over 20% of these awards have been won by GEMS students and teachers.

Zeeshan Suri from The Cambridge High School in Abu Dhabi became one of only seven students to receive three or more awards since their inception, when he received two awards at this year's ceremony. He received an award for achieving the highest mark in the UAE in the Cambridge International A-Level Applied ICT examinations, as well as another award for the 'Best across three Cambridge International A Levels'. Last year he received the award for 'Outstanding Academic Achievement in the A Level examinations'.   

This year's winners also included another second time high achiever, Saad Chowdhery from The Westminster School. He also received an award for the 'Best across three Cambridge International A Level examinations', which he added to his award for 'Outstanding Academic Achievement in AS Level examinations' from last year.

Other  student award winners for this year's award ceremony included : Annemarie Schreyer from GEMS Wellington International School who received the highest mark in the UAE for the Cambridge International A-Level Sociology examinations; Ravindi Karunaratne from Cambridge International School, Dubai who received an award for the 'Best combined results across three Cambridge International A Level examinations'; Rahul Sabhnani, from The Cambridge High School in Abu Dhabi, received an award for the 'Best combined results across three Cambridge International AS Level examinations' award

Two teachers who have made outstanding contributions to their schools were presented with the Cambridge Inspirational Teacher Award.  Mr. Kingston, Vice Principal at The Westminster School, has been at the school for eight years, and received the award for many initiatives including the introduction of the Student Leadership - Class Council and for his instrumental role in moulding the Department of English into a results-oriented and productive department.

Also Mercy Moni, who has taught science teacher at the Cambridge International School, Dubai for 22 years, also received the Award. Throughout her many years of teaching she has adapted

new styles of teaching into her lessons and has received high praise from the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau for her leadership of the Science department at the school. 

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About GEMS Education:
GEMS Education has a global network of world class international schools. With 50 years of experience in education, GEMS provides high quality holistic education to over 100,000 students from 125 countries. It employs over 9,000 education professionals, specialists and staff from around the world. The GEMS approach to learning focuses not only on academic excellence, but also in helping students develop their character and creativity so that they achieve their full potential as human beings.  The GEMS Education school model is unique in the world because it offers a broad range of curricula across a range of tuition fees making private education more accessible to the broader community. GEMS Education also supports Governments' education reform agenda by working with Ministries of Education to lift school performance and improve the standards and expertise government schools across the globe. GEMS Education has offices in the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, India and Singapore.

For more information, please contact:
Margaret Flanagan/ Sara Hamam
ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
Tel: (+971 4) 334 4550
Email: s.hamam@asdaa.com /m.flanagan@asdaa.com

© Press Release 2010