In a meeting with thousands of teachers from across the country, Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that teachers have a key role in educating innovative and pious individuals in the country. "The Iranian nation should achieve such progress that it can turn into an unquestioned authority for Muslim nations and intellectuals regarding various intellectual, scientific, political, and social matters. And this is the historical responsibility of the Iranian nation."
Ayatollah Khamenei commemorated Shahid Motahhari and said that he was a perfect and conscientious teacher, further adding: "That great man courageously entered any arena where he felt his society needed him or where unanswered questions remained, and in this regard different interests and considerations never presented an obstacle to him."
Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated: "Unlike some so-called religious intellectuals who used to present non-religious concepts as religion, Shahid Motahhari used to present genuine religious concepts to his audience on the basis of their immediate needs and questions."
He stressed that Shahid Motahhari was not after fame or an academic and religious position. "During his life, he fought misguided and heretic thoughts as vigorously as he fought reactionary attitudes and dogmatism, and this was one of the prominent characteristics of Shahid Motahhari," he noted.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that Shahid Motahhari's works have withstood the test of time and reiterated: "The sincerity of that great man is the reason why after the passage of 30 years since his martyrdom and in spite of various advances made ever since his works can still be used to address many of today's needs."
Ayatollah Khamenei added: "Whenever a profound thought is accompanied by sincerity, Allah the Exalted bestows such blessing on the thought that it turns into an inexhaustible resource for the people of society, and Shahid Motahhari's works are like that."
His Eminence said that the greatness of education is exemplified by the effect of Shahid Motahhari's scholarly and cultural works. He referred to the key role of teachers and reiterated: "If teachers constantly take the greatness of their role into consideration, their faith, motivation, and efforts will be doubled."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the effect of teachers on the individual and social characteristics of children and adolescents is far beyond the effect of parents, media, social factors, genetic inheritance, morality, and spirituality. "Having such a prominent role, teachers can educate faithful, motivated, patient, hopeful, innovative, thoughtful, and scholarly individuals who are committed to pursuing public interests and reaching the peaks of individual and social perfection."
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that if teachers fail to realize the importance of their role, they may educate students who are not useful to society.
His Eminence emphatically called on teachers to develop faith in the importance of their role and added: "It is essential to plan fundamental changes in the education system, and this must be carried out considering the needs, lofty ideals, and human capacities of the country. But this does not mean that we should stand by and wait until these fundamental changes are made."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to the backwardness of the country, and said that compensating for this shortcoming necessitates great action. "Iran should achieve the position it deserves, and it should turn into a perfect role model for the world of Islam."
Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated: "In order to achieve this great goal, the Iranian nation should make use of all its power, human and intellectual capacities, and God-given talents."
His Eminence stressed that if the Iranian nation achieves the position it deserves, it will prepare the ground for changing the fate of the world of Islam. "Changing the fate of the world of Islam will result in changing the fate of the world and the existing situation."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution described the moral condition of the modern world as extremely bad and reiterated: "It is possible to change this appalling fate of humanity, but the first prerequisite is to make great changes in the country and turn it into a material and spiritual role model."
Ayatollah Khamenei further reiterated: "Education is the basis of all kinds of change in the country. Considering the infrastructures that have been created during the past 30 years, future prospects are very good although there is a long and difficult path ahead of us."
His Eminence said that the enmity of the superpowers and ill-wishers and the efforts to thwart the progress of the Iranian nation are not surprising. "The experience of the Iranian nation has shown that threats and opposition cannot slow down the progress of the nation. And the Iranian nation will continue treading its path in a firm manner."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution reiterated: "On the path to progress, the most important matter is that everybody should identify and fulfill their responsibility appropriately."