The Responsibility of Teachers and Workers in the Nation’s Progress
The 11th and 12th of Ordibehesht (April 30th and May 1st) are days on which the status of the worker and the dignity of the teacher are honoured. Beyond verbal and symbolic appreciation, which is, in its own right, appropriate and commendable, the progress of any country depends upon the two wings of knowledge and action.
The teacher plays a role at the very first stage in realizing this objective. The weighty responsibility of imparting knowledge, developing skills, and shaping a significant part of the intellectual growth and identity of the future generation rests upon them. The students, whether in school, university, or seminary, who grow alongside each teacher will, in the not-so-distant future, apply the knowledge they have acquired and the skills they have learned. Indeed, in their character, behaviour, and speech, across various arenas, from the warmth of the family setting to the workplace and public spaces, they will, like mirrors, reflect the conduct and words of their teachers.
On the other hand, the realm of work is a vast field, extending across the breadth of a country, from homes, offices, businesses, and mosques to farms, workshops, factories, mines, and a wide range of service professions. The more this expansive domain is enriched by the two elements of diligence and commitment, both considered among the pillars of every great success, the more the progress of the country is ensured and strengthened.
The Role of Teachers and Workers in the Cultural and Economic Struggle
It becomes clear that just as it is fitting to kiss, in gratitude and appreciation, the kind and caring hand of the teacher and educator, so too should one express thanks to the capable and skillful hands of the worker. This, of course, is something that is nurtured first in the lap of one’s earliest educators, namely, one’s parents, and thereafter through benefiting from the presence of teachers.
Now that the Islamic Republic of Iran, after more than forty-seven years of striving, and by relying on divine grace, has demonstrated to the world a portion of its remarkable capabilities in military confrontation against the enemies of its progress and advancement, it must also disappoint and defeat them in the arenas of economic and cultural struggle.
Teachers will be the most effective link in the cultural struggle, and workers among the most effective elements in the economic struggle, so much so that it can be claimed that these two groups constitute the backbone of the spheres of culture and economy. For this reason, it is necessary that they fully recognize the importance of their position as something beyond merely a job, one for which a wage is received.
The Necessity of Public Appreciation and Support for the Teacher and Worker Classes
At the same time, it must be noted that verbal expressions of appreciation, whether annual or occasional, while appropriate and fitting, are not sufficient. Gratitude for the efforts of these two groups must be deeper and more practical than this. It seems to me that just as the noble people of Iran show worthy support for their country’s military forces by their presence in public arenas and streets, it is appropriate that they also demonstrate strong support in assisting teachers and workers.
Among the necessary steps is to further facilitate the involvement of families of students in the administration of schools and universities. Likewise, by prioritizing the consumption of domestically produced goods, support should be extended to productive workers. In particular, business owners who have been affected should, as much as possible, avoid laying off or dismissing their workforce—whether in production or service sectors—and instead regard each worker as an asset of that enterprise. And, of course, the respected government should, to the extent possible, support this benevolent effort.
Traversing the Path Toward the Peaks of Progress
Beloved Iran, just as, after years of effort, it has emerged as a military power, God willing and by divine grace, through clearly outlining the contours of an Iranian-Islamic identity and embedding it ever more deeply within the minds and souls of the youth of this country, at the hands of educators and teachers, and by prioritizing the consumption of domestically produced goods, which are the result of the labor of hardworking Iranian workers, it will traverse the path toward the peaks of progress and advancement.
And this, of course, will come to fruition all the more swiftly and effectively through the blessings of supplication and the intercession of our master (may God hasten his noble reappearance), by the permission of God Almighty.
And peace be upon you, and the mercy of God, and His blessings.
Sayyid Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei
Ordibehesht 11 (May 1, 2026)
Sayyid Ali studied in the seminary of Qom from 2012 to 2021, while also concurrently obtaining a M.A in Islamic Studies from the Islamic College of London in 2018. In the seminary he engaged in the study of legal theory, jurisprudence and philosophy, eventually attending the advanced kharij of Usul and Fiqh in 2018. He completed his Masters of Education at the University of Toronto in 2025 and is the head of a private faith-based school in Toronto, as well as an instructor at the Mufid Seminary.
