Ali believes in the power of art and play in the field of education. During his school years as a child, the curriculum was strictly focused on core subjects only. Today, most countries recognise the benefits of teaching arts and integrating play to the wellbeing of students, and their ability to learn. A change in global attitudes that school assistant, Ali, welcomes wholeheartedly. “Art and play are very useful” he said. “It’s a great educational tool and many subjects can be taught through art, theatre and play.”

 It soon became clear to Ali that children learn in varied and different ways. After diagnosing some cases of children with autism, he saw first-hand that using different educational strategies had positive outcomes. Children would respond to different methods and absorb information through non-traditional means. Being creative with subjects was essential for them to learn. 

Core subjects still take priority in schooling. Mathematics and English for example, are often considered to be more important due to time constraints. Some schools are operating in two or three shifts.

But Ali has seen that his students have reduced the time of contact with their teachers, therefore he included  artistic expression and play in the curriculum to make up for what they have missed for some time and to keep their attention.  As part of the science lessons, he created a play in which the students performed as organs in the human body. Some would play the heart, another the lungs, kidneys and so on. Through this play, Ali taught the students how if one organ was damaged, this could affect the others. The children not only enjoyed the experience but left with an understanding of how the human body works.

“A safe and stable environment for students contributes to a wonderful education”

“First, I teach them how to stand in front of their colleagues without fear and how to speak with an audience”, he explained. “At first they were hesitant and afraid but with encouragement and learning, I felt proud when I saw my students learning, gaining knowledge and imitating me in the way I explain and teach”.  

His approach to learning however, was frowned upon by some. “At the beginning I faced a lot of challenges. I was introducing new ways of teaching.”

Eventually, after much hard work and persistence, he won approval and praise from the school’s educational staff and the parents when he presented the idea of the lesson and the students learn interactively.

Ali’s artistic expression isn’t limited to theatre. He set out to build a playground for students to practice their hobbies and a garden he had planted and nourished for years won an award as the number one communal garden in Iraq. News of the prize saw national television channels UTV, Nineveh Now and al Hurra Iraq arrive to broadcast reports for the whole country to see.  “A safe and stable environment for students contributes to a wonderful education”, he said. 

“The school is in a popular neighbourhood but lacks recreational places, green spaces, sports stadiums, and has children with special needs. They need an outlet and a green space for calm and comfort. 

“My school was a dangerous place, it was unfit for teaching, a place full of rubble, and war projectiles. Now it’s a beautiful and child-friendly place that contains gardens, fountains, a sports ground, classrooms, smart boards and other facilities that attract students to school. All these changes were achieved in 3 years, between 2018 and 2021 when I received the school garden award, and I still have the potential to do more ” 

Ali hopes that the positive impact of his methods can inspire others in the profession. And hopes that those training to become educators can see the value in what he has achieved. “My advice is to have an open heart”, he said. “To be patient in teaching and listening to them, and to remember that teaching is a sacred profession.”