Anis Bakir
When Anis Bakir came to the UK in 1992 he had to take jobs as a school cleaner and kitchen porter, but he never gave up on learning and has finally realised his dream of becoming a qualified teacher.
Anis was born and educated in Tunisia and says, “I always had the ambition to become a teacher, mainly due to my optimism to educate and inspire the younger generation and give back to society and, of course, seeking a better lifestyle.”
Even though his background was in Arabic Literature and Modern Foreign Languages – English, French and German, Anis realised that he needed to update his skills in order to achieve his ambition.
Upon his arrival in the UK, he took a series of courses that eventually led to his chosen career. As he started to develop his computer skills he was made a Teaching Assistant at Spring Hill High School – where he worked.
Anis then gained a Specialist Teaching Assistant’s Certificate and went on to complete a Foundation Degree in Teaching and Learning. He has now achieved a BA (Hons) in ICT at Key Stages 3 & 4, which has given him Qualified Teacher Status. He also works in the local community, teaching Arabic at GCSE and A-level to people from a variety of backgrounds.
His nominator, Viv Kibble, said, “As a colleague, he is always willing to help others and share his knowledge. He provides a forum for local people to share ideas and learn about cultural differences.”
Anis said, “Learning is the main feed to the brain and soul. It’s what gives me a meaning and purpose to life.”