The following is some part of the speech delivered on May 9, 2018 by Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, during a meeting with a group of teachers from throughout the country. The meeting was held at Farhangian Teacher Education University (FTEU) on the occasion of National Teachers' Appreciation Week. Here is what his highness had said about FTEU

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

All other organizations should help with tasks regarding the educational system: everyone should help. One area is related to the Farhangian University and various organizations in charge of teacher education – I will expand on this matter later – and another to the educational system itself: they should prepare software and hardware requirements for this task. They [the people heading educational sectors] should present a timetable for these measures, as well; thus, by Allah's favor, this task will be accomplished. This is the most important course of action in the public education system of Iran.

As for issues regarding Farhangian University and the subject of teacher training, today teachers are a necessity for Iran's educational system: most of all, teachers are needed. This university, the Shahid Rajai University, and every other place which embarks upon the training of teachers should develop quantitatively and qualitatively. A gentleman, in this meeting, mentioned – as I myself know – that in four years, a large number, an overwhelming number, of teachers will retire. Individuals from this university, Farhangian University, and from Shahid Rajai University -- who will enter the educational system -- will be much less, in number, than those who exit the educational system; this is a crisis for the educational system: an incident like this should not happen.

 

It is said that they are employing some individuals from outside the country: this is an emergency measure which is alright if necessity dictates; however, this is not a suitable task according to our principles. Teaching is a professional career and an artistic job which requires serious learning. You learn how to teach here [at Farhangian]. He who has studied here or there does not have your level of expertise. So, how is he going to, efficiently, teach? Teacher training centers – the most important is Farhangian University at the moment – are the main hubs of Iran's educational system. But, negligence has been presumed in the case of this university.

According to my received data and reports, this university has certain shortcomings in terms of manpower, budget, and the overall educational environment. The Ministry of Science, the Management Organization, and the Recruitment Affairs Organization should cooperate and help out here so that each of these problems will be eliminated. Of course, friends in this meeting, and in the previous meetings, have mentioned they have some expectations of me too. I am ready! I will definitely do whatever I can, within the remit of my power, because I consider this as one of the most pressing issues of Iran.

The quotas for employing professors and teachers should increase: this is the responsibility of the Recruitment Affairs Organization. The professors at this university should be outstanding in terms of intellectual and scientific qualities: they should be pious; they should embrace a high level of expertise; they should have a revolutionary spirit, and they should comply with the standards of the Transformation Plan. It is not possible to prepare a transformation plan and seek its implementation while watching the most important and fundamental center of our educational system drift away from its standards and criteria. The selection nuclei should not show any sign of negligence in this regard. They should select outstanding, professional, and, of course, full-time professors.

I would like to advise all professors and students, at this university, to become more familiar with the works of our dear martyr: Shahid Motahhari. –Teachers' Day is closely linked to his name as well. Familiarize yourselves with his exceptional works as much as possible. Many years have passed since the blessed life of Shahid Motahhari, but his pure blood and his martyrdom are signatures to his statement. He was sincere and truthful; he was intelligent, talented, and strong in terms of intellectual capability; he, thankfully, left behind a great legacy which carries on to this day. Now, those were some thoughts on education and Farhangian University: this concludes another portion of the speech.