![Afaf Sharif from Al-Bireh Secondary School for Girls come top of the Arab reading challenge in Dubai on 18 October, 2017 [qudspress]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/2017_10_18-Arab-Reading-Challengeddddd.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
A Palestinian student was crowned champion of the Arab Reading Challenge today.
Now in its second year, the competition saw seven million entrants vie for the awards in Dubai, UAE, which saw Palestinian Afaf Sharif from Al-Bireh Secondary School for Girls come top.
Palestinian Minister of Education Sabri Saydam stressed that this victory will illuminate the path for other Palestinian children during “their hard work and perseverance to be at the forefront of children of the world”.
Last year, the Nablus-based Talai Al-Amal School won the competition and was named best Arab school of the year. It was awarded $1 million.
OPINION: Education is a right being denied to Palestinian children, and Israel is the culprit