Khamenei.ir

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei, in a meeting with the instructors and teachers of Fars province on Thursday, said: "The dignity and position of teachers in society should be revived according to Islamic thought and logic." His Eminence said: "Teachers should be looked upon with great respect, reverence and nobility in society."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution described Teacher's Day as a meaningful day and said that this day is a day for the whole nation. His Eminence also referred to the fundamental difference between Islamic and Western views in regard to the position of teachers and added: "According to Islamic thought, the issue of education is equal to reviving people and society, but from the perspective of the materialistic civilization of the West, the value of teachers lies in the ability to make money." He said: "Unfortunately this view has been extended to our country under the influence of Western civilization during the last two centuries, which has led to the debasement of teachers."
His Eminence described the need for the officials to attend to the needs and financial requirements of the teachers. He added: "Teachers' views on the issue of education should be based on the Islamic view in which students' attitude towards their teachers is full of politeness, gratitude and modesty, and according to which people respect teachers in the real sense of the word."
His Eminence also cited Quranic verses and traditions and described the duty of educators as leading human beings onto the right path. He added:"Imam Khomeini (r.a.), as a scholar who was well familiar with the Holy Quran, considered education as the duty of saints."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also advised teachers and educators to pay attention to different educational values as well as the ethics of teaching and added: "The art of a teacher would be to rightly train the minds of students by having a lenient and appreciating attitude towards learners."
His Eminence described learning from others and from outsiders, as useful and added: "We should be persistent in learning, but should only select what is useful for us in this regard." He said: "We should not let outsiders infuse our minds with what they like, and should at the same time move towards becoming scholars as soon as possible."
Ayatollah Khamenei described as necessary the need for wide-ranging reforms in the educational system and added: "The present organization, form and content in the educational system is modeled on Western principles." He said: "The officials in the educational system must offer a well thought-out program to the nation and the future generations with the purpose of reforming the present system of education, which could be achieved by means of close investigation and by making use of the experts at the High Council of Cultural Revolution."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to rote learning as one the shortcomings of the educational system. "It is necessary that meaningful learning be considered in the educational system as a basic principle so that the way is paved for the flourishing of talents," he said.
His Eminence referred to teacher education as very important and reiterated: "In this regard, we must make use of the potentialities of universities and other centers in addition to the vast capacity of the school education system."
Elsewhere in his speech, the Leader referred to delivering well-educated and efficient students to society as the general responsibility of the educational system. He added: "Of course, universities are also important, but there are many jobs in the country that do not require academic education. As a result, schools must train youth who are sufficiently knowledgeable."
He said that teachers are responsible for spiritual and religious education of their pupils, and added: "In line with this general responsibility, it is necessary that a special organization be formed in the field of educational activities of students."
Touching upon the need for timetabled plans for educating all people, Ayatollah Khamenei described educating all school-age children living in various parts of the country as necessary.
His Eminence added: "20 years ago, nobody believed the person who talked about manufacturing centrifuges and uranium enrichment in the country. However, through innovation, the talented youth of this nation have acted in a way which has led to praise for the Iranian nation by all nations throughout the world due to its enthusiasm for advanced technological knowledge and claiming this national right and pride. And this is the true meaning of innovation and proving the capabilities of the great Iranian nation."