A MUM who was forced to flee from Iran following religious persecution has landed a new job teaching on Teesside.

Naghmeh Zarehaghighi came to the UK in 2015 with her then four-year-old son because life in Iran had become too dangerous.

The 41-year-old, who has a passion for mathematics and was highly qualified as a teacher in Iran, first came to Middlesbrough College to study a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) that would allow her to take up the job she loves in the UK.

Naghmeh became a model student on the PGCE course, impressing Middlesbrough College tutors with her commitment and ambition, all while working in the College’s beauty salon and doing volunteer work across Middlesbrough.

She said: “I love teaching so much, and I’m so happy I’m now able to do that again. It gives me so much pleasure to help students who sometimes don’t have a lot of confidence.

“I really want to help them change their lives.”

Naghmeh is now a Dyscalculia/Maths tutor for Middlesbrough College’s Progression Studies students at Functional Skills and GCSE Level – often those who need additional support in their learning including students with English as a second language.