Statements in Meeting with Teachers and Educators

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our master Muhammad and his pure family.

I extend my warm welcome to all dear brothers and sisters. Truly, the teaching community is a cherished and beloved community for anyone who understands the value of education and upbringing.

It is the month of Sha'ban, a month of supplication and attention; a precursor to the blessed month of Ramadan; a month in which the paths to happiness have been illuminated for us in the supplications of this month. O God, grant me a heart that draws near to You with its longing, a tongue that speaks sincerely to You, and a gaze that brings me closer to You with its truth... O God, grant me the perfection of severing ties to anything but You. These lofty aspirations of the friends of God have been conveyed to us in words to guide our minds toward what we should seek, the path we should tread, and the type of relationship we should have with God. My dear ones, my youth, esteemed teachers! Value this opportunity; make use of the month of Sha'ban. The middle of Sha'ban is the blessed birth of the Awaited Savior (may our souls be sacrificed for him). It is truly a blessed night and day due to the grace of this sacred birth. In addition, the night of the middle of Sha'ban is a night of great significance; some have said it is the Night of Destiny. Keep the night of the middle of Sha'ban in mind and refresh your souls with supplication, with intercession, with remembrance, and with the remembrance of God; share your desires with the Almighty God, speak with Him.

On the occasion of Teacher's Day, we honor the memory of our dear martyr, the late Ayatollah Motahhari (may God's mercy be upon him); he was truly a teacher. In language, in action, in lifestyle, and in his manner of dealing with the times and the people of the times, he was a teacher in the true sense of the word; we have lost him. The enemies of humanity, the enemies of the country, the enemies of Islam took him from us, but thanks be to God, his works remain. I earnestly recommend - as the Minister also pointed out, and he is absolutely correct - to utilize the insights of that great man, both in the field of education and in other areas; his books guide the mind, nurture it, and enrich it with correct and solid Islamic knowledge.

I would like to speak about three topics, each with a few words: one about the teacher, one about education, and a brief sentence about the elections, which is our current issue, God willing.

Regarding the teacher, his importance lies in the fact that the entire educated community of the country owes a debt to the teaching profession; this is very significant. Every wise, aware, learned, educated, and literate person you find is indebted to a teacher; the teaching profession holds such a position. Everyone agrees that the power, strength, credibility, and dignity of a country depend more than anything else on its human resources. Is that not true? We all agree on this. Well, who creates human resources? Who refines them? Who actualizes them? The teacher. See, these are the values and true indicators of the worth of a teacher.

Why do we say this? This is because, first of all, the teaching community itself must recognize the value and dignity of this position, this profession; this is very important. It was a very good point that the Minister made; I truly enjoyed hearing that teaching is not merely a job in an office, but teaching is a status, a position, and a rank; the teacher must first understand this. If we recognize our dignity in any field, we will not submit to degradation, laziness, or impurity; this is the first point; and then, society must appreciate the teacher and show respect and honor to the teacher; and then the authorities must understand this importance. I have repeatedly stated that investing in education and spending on teachers is an investment! Spend on teachers. This is one of our responsibilities - the responsibilities of the country's officials and the responsibilities of the government.

Another point that should be mentioned in the context of honoring and respecting the teacher is that teachers themselves must prepare for this great responsibility. Well, how should a teacher prepare? With the means that the state provides for them. Therefore, I emphasize here that the Teacher Training University must be taken seriously by the authorities; the Teacher Training University - which produces teachers - must be taken seriously; invest in it as much as possible; in one respect, the importance of this university is greater than all other universities.

Every teacher is also a nurturer - that is, a teacher of ethics - whether it is a mathematics teacher, a physics teacher, or a natural sciences teacher, they are also teachers of ethics. Sometimes a teacher in the classroom, suppose during a geometry or chemistry lesson, may utter a word regarding spiritual matters or the knowledge of God that sometimes has a greater impact on the student's mind than an entire book and remains with them; with their ethics, with their demeanor; an ethical teacher nurtures ethics in the student. A noble-hearted teacher, a patient teacher, a pious teacher, a dignified teacher, these qualities and traits are conveyed to their students through their behavior, even if they do not speak a word on these subjects; this is the role of the teacher. Therefore, the teacher is very important. From here, I have always objected to those who want to use the teaching community as a political tool; this is injustice. This is not a new issue; it dates back to the 1980s; some of these actions were taken then. The dignity of the teacher is such that this precious diamond cannot be used as a plaything. The teacher has a status, a position; this is the status of the teacher.

Of course, I have learned that in the not-too-distant future, a very large number of teachers - I won't mention the number - will retire, and there will be a need for teachers; this is one of the immediate needs of the education system. Well, what should we do? Suppose the capacity of the Teacher Training University and Shahid Rajaei University does not suffice. What should we do? Should we open the doors and let people enter the education system without any criteria? No, we must think. First and foremost, we must increase the capacities of these teacher-training universities as much as possible; this is the priority; if this does not suffice, we must set criteria; the main centers should sit down and establish criteria for [hiring] teachers. This is one sentence about the teacher.

Now, regarding education; education is the main infrastructure of science and research in the country. The infrastructures of the country are very important; the engineering infrastructures of the country, the scientific infrastructures of the country, the literary and cultural infrastructures of the country, these are all very important. When the infrastructures in a certain sector are in place in a country, production in that sector will become easier. The infrastructure of science and research is education. If education, with its policies, behaviors, and proper planning, follows the right path, this infrastructure will become better and stronger day by day; in the field of science and research, which is our primary and essential need in the long, medium, and short term, the country will become enriched; this is the importance of education. If we leave education to its own devices, do not pay the necessary attention, and problems arise in education, this infrastructure will be damaged; then the damage will be incalculable.

Once, during my time studying in Qom, there was a wise and knowledgeable tailor in Qom who made clerical clothing and cloaks. He had made a cloak for one of the well-known scholars of that time; that scholar apparently had pointed out a flaw in the cloak; he said, "Sir! If the tailor is flawed, the cloak will be flawed; but if the scholar is flawed, the world will be flawed." If I do not perform my job correctly, your cloak may have a slight issue, but if you, God forbid, have a flaw, "the world will be flawed." See, now, God forbid, "if education is flawed," you can see what happens in the country.

The duty of education is to nurture a generation; when we look at the medium-term perspective, it aims to nurture a generation for a future period. How will it nurture? What will it nurture? Education [must] be able to nurture a generation with faith; faith is the essence. Carefree and unprincipled children who are bound to nothing are not beneficial for themselves, for the country, or for society in the future; faith comes first. A faithful, loyal, responsible, self-confident, innovative, truthful, brave generation, a modest, thoughtful generation, a generation that loves its country, loves its system, loves its people, [a generation that] considers the interests of its country as its own interests and defends them; such a generation must be nurtured; a strong, determined, resolute, innovative, progressive, active generation; this is the kind of generation [that is needed]; this is the work of education [itself]; see how important this work is! I say the work of education, not the work of the teacher. Although the teacher is the means, education is what creates the environment for the teacher, for the student, for the parents, for the designers, for the authors of textbooks; all of these are effective; education is what accomplishes these tasks.

Keep this in mind, the reports that reach me indicate that there is a current - I feel this is a "current" - in the country trying to undermine the perception of education; to diminish the value of education and the trust in education in people's hearts; they have objectives. This [current] is also guided from outside. Now some people get annoyed; whenever we say foreign hands are involved, they say you are always attacking foreigners! No, we see our own weaknesses; if we are strong, no foreign power can do anything, but it is from our weaknesses that they are taking advantage, planning, scheming, and infiltrating; they distort and misdirect direct paths.

One of the problems with our education system is the disease of university-centrism. In our student environment, there is a university-centrism; that is, if someone wants to study and does not reach university, it is as if they have not studied at all; this is a mistake, this is wrong, it is not necessary. We have so many urgent, immediate, necessary, and important needs in the country that do not require a university education; they do not require a doctoral or master's degree or anything like that; this is why I have emphasized for many years - several times until now - on vocational schools and technical-professional education, because of this. These vocational and technical fields must be strengthened, must be increased. Many people have worked in vocational education, advanced in technical-professional fields, learned, and become skilled at what to do; they have come and are working; their material lives are secured, they are spiritually vibrant, and they are serving society; which is better, this or someone who has worked hard and obtained a doctoral degree, but is sitting idle, unable to find work, or if they do find work, it is a superficial, low-value job in some organization or office where they are told to sit there as a consultant or something like that! What value does it have to study so much and work so hard? University-centrism is a mistake.

Yes, we need knowledge, we need research; the more we advance in the field of science, the better; I have been saying this for years, and thanks be to God, we have made progress, but this does not mean that everyone who sets foot in elementary or high school should consider their goal to be university; no, there are thousands of jobs that do not require university, do not require that heavy cost, do not require that enthusiasm and talent [for university]. Let us not forget these; these are our treasures, our wealth. This youth who can work in technical-professional fields and reach a certain level - in any field: in arts, in industry, in technical fields, and so on - this is a national treasure, this belongs to the country; they must be utilized.

Another important issue is the issue of the transformation document. Well, experienced and knowledgeable friends and officials have sat down, worked hard, and created the transformation document; very good, it has been communicated. It began to be operationalized, but five or six years have passed, [yet] it has not happened; why? How long must we wait for these regulations that are said to be realized under the transformation document to be organized? This work must be done quickly. It seems there is a lack of enthusiasm, a lack of motivation. I earnestly ask the honorable Minister and the esteemed officials to take the issue of transformation seriously. Our education system needs transformation. This transformation document indicates that we need transformation. Transformation is not merely changing the superficial aspects of work; it means a deep change must take place. As specialists in this field say - because I do not specialize in this field - this transformation document can apparently; it can guarantee this; it must be pursued.

I would also like to mention another issue here: this 2030 document from the United Nations and UNESCO and such things, these are not things that the Islamic Republic can shoulder and submit to. On what basis does a so-called international body - which is certainly under the influence of the great powers of the world - have the right to dictate to different countries, to various nations, with different civilizations, with different historical and cultural backgrounds, what they must do? The very principle of this work is wrong. If you cannot oppose the very principle of your work, at the very least, you should stand and say that the Islamic Republic has its own path, its own guidelines; we have higher-level documents; we know what to do in the fields of education, upbringing, ethics, and lifestyle; there is no need for this document. That we go and sign the document and then quietly start implementing it, no, this is absolutely not permissible; we have also announced this to the responsible agencies. I am also dissatisfied with the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution; they should have been vigilant; they should not have allowed this work to reach this point where we have to intervene and address the issue. This is the Islamic Republic; here, the foundation is Islam, the foundation is the Quran; this is not a place where the corrupt and destructive Western lifestyle can exert such influence. Unfortunately, they are exerting influence and entering through various means, but [the idea that] they can officially give us a document saying, "In fifteen years, you must do this, you must do that," and we say yes, this work makes no sense.

Well, the discussion has become lengthy. We have much to discuss with you dear ones in education. There are many more things to say than what I have mentioned, but there is not enough time to present all those points; it has become a bit lengthy, but I would like to say a sentence regarding the elections.

Dear brothers and sisters and all the people of Iran who will hear this! Know that elections are vital; not just this particular election, but all elections in the country, especially the presidential election, which is the most important, in every period, are truly vital for the country; both in terms of the essence of the election - which is an important issue; well, it is the Islamic Republic; we are a republic; our positions and officials are derived from the public; from the people; this must be preserved with utmost care, this is very valuable; if this [election] did not exist in the Islamic Republic, today there would be no news of the system that was established with that revolution, this is very important; this meaning arises from Islam and is utilized; it is not that we have taken the republic and attached it to Islam; no, Islam teaches us this; now this is one aspect - but in addition to this, what is immediately necessary for the administration of the country and the preservation of the country and the interests of the people is the presence of the people; the presence of the people is what opens doors, the presence of the people is what frightens the enemies from the might of the Islamic Republic; this is a reality, know this.

The Islamic Republic has might in the eyes of its enemies; what is this might derived from? Is it derived from people like me and others? Absolutely not, it is derived from the people, it is derived from this massive public presence, it is derived from these feelings and emotions that manifest themselves in all arenas and scenes of presence; I say this; do not come and interpret and twist what I have stated clearly and say, "No, the meaning of this is that this public presence - suppose - brings a government to power that creates that might!" No, my friend! Governments have no effect. [Have you] forgotten that in the 1990s, one of the European governments accused our president and summoned him to court? The president of Iran! Even though that president had a very close relationship with that government; they exchanged messages, sent representatives, wrote letters, and perhaps even spoke on the phone - now I do not remember the phone calls, but they were constantly exchanging letters - and he expressed [friendship]; that same government summoned our president as a defendant in its courts! We hit them in the mouth, and they retreated; if we had not hit them in the mouth, they would have advanced. The enemy is the enemy; there is no such thing as this government or that government. If they can act hostile, if they can pour their venom, they will; they do not consider anyone's feelings; they do not consider rhetoric, political posturing, or anything like that; they are the enemy. What prevents the enemy from acting hostile is the fear of the people's presence. They see that if they act hostile, the result will be the opposite; because an eighty-million-strong country stands against them. Is this a joke? We are eighty million; a great country, with aware and intelligent people, with strong human resources, with all these youths; this is what creates might and grandeur in the eyes of the enemies for the Islamic Republic. Keep this in mind.

If you want this feeling, this grandeur, this security to remain for us, you must participate in the elections; if you want the Islamic Republic to maintain its authority in the eyes of the world - both enemies and friends - you must participate in the elections. Participation in the elections preserves the authority of the country, preserves the grandeur of the country, preserves the security of the country; this is it. If there is any negligence regarding the elections, if there are factors that work to dishearten the people, to discourage them, and if there is negligence in the elections, the country will suffer, it will be harmed; anyone who is involved in this harm will be responsible before the Almighty God. Everyone must participate in the elections. Of course, there are different tastes, different opinions, different political preferences; you prefer Zayd, you prefer Amr; you vote for Zayd, you vote for Amr; this is not an issue; what is important is that everyone comes, everyone is present, everyone shows that they are willing to support Islam, the Islamic system, the Islamic Republic, and to preserve the security of their country. And know! If this determination, this will - with the help and power of God - continues among our people, with the same intensity and grandeur that exists, the enemy will never be able to do anything against the country.

O Lord! Make what we have said and heard for You and in Your way. O Lord! Bestow Your mercy and grace upon the pure souls of the martyrs, the soul of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), and the pure souls of the great figures of Islam.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.