GEMS Education welcomes over 1,700 world-class new teachers at annual GEMS Awareness Day with raft of new initiatives in ‘turning point’ for group

• Hand-picked teachers from across the globe joining GEMS for Academic Year 2025-26
• GEMS group celebrates students heading for the world’s leading universities for next stage of their journey
• Retention rates remain among highest in sector, as Chairman heralds “not just a new chapter – but a turning point”

GEMS Education today welcomed more than 1,700 new teachers from a diverse range of countries at its annual GEMS Awareness Day, held at Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai.

In his keynote address, GEMS Education Chairman and Founder Mr Sunny Varkey declared that 2025 marks “not just a new chapter, but a turning point” in the history of education. Reflecting on the group’s six and a half decades of impact, Mr Varkey underlined both the opportunities and responsibilities facing educators today.

“We are not just growing. We are not just improving. We are not just leading. We are re-imagining education for a new generation,” he said.

He told the audience that while technology and artificial intelligence will transform how children learn, the human connection between teacher and student remains irreplaceable:

“No machine is programmed to give our children the values and mindset to succeed and be a good person. No line of code can replace warmth and encouragement. And no artificial intelligence, no matter how advanced, will believe in you the way a teacher can. This is the power of human connection.”

Mr Varkey also reaffirmed his conviction that family must always come first in education, highlighting GEMS’ BEYOND100, Determined Genius, Family First Café, and Parent 360 programmes as examples of initiatives that help nurture character, wellbeing, and lifelong habits for success.

“Our work is more than a job, more than a mission, more than a calling. It is a simple promise we must keep – to always put children first. No ifs and no buts,” Mr Varkey added.

Every year, GEMS students progress to the world’s most prestigious universities, including the Ivy League in the United States, Oxbridge in the United Kingdom, Russell Group universities, and other leading institutions globally. These outcomes stand as proof of the academic excellence, high teaching standards, and world-class support networks that define a GEMS education.

This includes, in 2025, 250 students who have been accepted into a Global Top 50 institution and 353 into Russell Group universities. Seven GEMS students have also been accepted into Ivy Leagues universities this year.

Dino Varkey, Group Chief Executive Officer, built on the Chairman’s message by highlighting GEMS’ commitment to recruiting and developing the very best talent:

“Every year, we go to extraordinary lengths to recruit only the very best educators – those who share our vision for excellence, creativity, and student success. GEMS Awareness Day is a celebration of this culture, attracting top educators, fostering belonging, and reinforcing excellence across our network.”

With more than 600,000 applications received annually for approximately 2,000 vacancies, GEMS is one of the world’s most sought-after education employers.

This level of demand reflects its reputation for supporting, developing, and respecting teachers, as underlined by Mr Varkey’s own words: “Teachers have always been and will always be the backbone of GEMS Education.”

Lisa Crausby OBE, Group Chief Education Officer, concluded by emphasising the role of teachers in turning vision into reality:

“I am delighted to welcome this year’s new intake of talented teachers to our GEMS family. The calibre, experience, and passion of our teachers make the real difference in our classrooms every day. With innovation at the heart of our work, I am confident we will continue to deliver exceptional outcomes for every child, in every GEMS school.”

GEMS continues to record exceptional retention rates, with the vast majority of teaching staff returning year-on-year. The group’s commitment to professional development has seen key leadership appointments from within as well as the introduction of hand-picked new heads.

GEMS Awareness Day 2025 brought together educators from across the network for a day of inspiration, collaboration, and insight and setting the stage for a school year focused on innovation, excellence, and transformation in education.