Dubai school plans memorial scholarship for teacher after 33 years of service

GEMS Education plans to establish a memorial scholarship in honour of Anjana Sanalkumar, a teacher and examinations officer at The Westminster School in Dubai who died after 33 years with the school group.

The announcement was shared with the GEMS community in a letter from group chief executive Dino Varkey, who paid tribute to Sanalkumar’s longstanding contribution to education and the relationships she built with students and colleagues.

Sanalkumar died Oct 7. The cause of her death ahs not been disclosed.

GEMS plans scholarship in her memory

The proposed Anjana Sanalkumar Memorial Scholarship will be established at The Westminster School, where she worked as a teacher and examinations officer.

Varkey said her 33 years of service deserved a lasting legacy. He described her death as a profound loss for her family, friends and the wider school community.

The scholarship is intended to honour her contribution by helping another student access educational opportunities. Further details of the initiative were not provided in the report.

Students and colleagues pay tribute

The Westminster School invited former and current students, teachers and colleagues to share their memories of Sanalkumar through its social media channels.

Hundreds of students, teachers and alumni posted messages remembering her. Former colleagues and students described her as kind, compassionate and helpful.

Juliet Carolyn, a former biology teacher and department coordinator at the school, said she had the privilege of knowing and working with Sanalkumar for 11 years.

Former student Ahmed Azab recalled her willingness to help students resolve school-related issues with understanding and compassion. Another former student, Faisal Mushtaq, remembered being taught computer science by her in the early 2000s.

School holds memorial service

The Westminster School arranged a memorial service for Thursday, Oct 8, at 3pm, with a livestream for people unable to attend in person.

The service provided an opportunity for members of the school community to remember Sanalkumar and share their condolences with her family and loved ones.

Her 33-year association with GEMS Education and the planned memorial scholarship reflect the school group’s intention to preserve the legacy of an educator whose career was closely connected with generations of students.