Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei underlined the importance of promoting independence and religious values in next generations as the primary responsibility of education authorities and teachers.
"The education sector and teachers shoulder the grave responsibility of bringing up a new generation equipped with an independent, honorable and distinguished religious identity," Ayatollah Khamenei said in a meeting with teachers in Tehran on Monday on the occasion of National Teachers Day.
"Such virtues in the society will significantly contribute to plans to develop an economy of resistance weaned off oil revenues and an independent culture, reform consumption patterns and build resistance against (the West's) excessive demands," he was quoted as saying by his official website.
Ayatollah Khamenei instructed authorities to work harder to address the livelihood problems of teachers.
"Teachers' selflessness and restraint should not make officials neglect the financial and livelihood issues facing the industrious community of teachers," he said.
"As we have repeatedly said, we believe any amount of budget spent in the education sector is an investment."
Pointing to a bill recently proposed in the US Congress calling for action to stop Iran from staging military exercises in the Persian Gulf, Ayatollah Khamenei said enemies are demanding that Iran should not be allowed to conduct military drills in the Persian Gulf, which is absurd.
"We will continue our presence, drills and show of power in this area … This is how we should confront greedy powers," he said.
