According to OERP Public and Int'l Relations, Dr. Mohammadian attended a two day gathering of Rastegaran schools principals held at Imam Sadeq (AS) University. In his address, he first expressed his condolences on the occasion of the anniversary of the sixth Imam (AS) and saluted the souls of martyrs and the late Imam Khomeini (RA). Pointing out the necessity for reform and development he said, "our educational system that was an imported one was very different from our beliefs and from the goals of revolution. That’s why it changed a country that once used to be the cradle of science and technology into a dependent country. Therefore the Charter of Fundamental Reform of Education -that is considered as the constitution of the educational system- was developed using views of experts of the Seminary and universities and guidance of the Supreme Leader inspired by the holy Quran and the manner of the holy Prophet (PBUH) and Imams (AS). The charter needed a road map to show the strategies, mechanisms and procedures to achieve its goals. So the national curriculum was planned to show us, like a comprehensive map, where and how to start, and what content, by what means, to whom should be taught so that children could be guided through the path of certain levels of pure life.
He added that the essential difference between the current and the previous curriculum is that it replaces vegetable or animal life with human life -or the rational life, as the late Allameh Mohammad-Taqi Ja'fari said- whose drive is the human nature that used to be neglected in the past educational system."
He stated that the purpose of creation of man is not limited to eating, drinking and sleeping (since plants and animals need the same), but man also needs to pass through the path of excellence based on his religious, curious, artistic, righteous and justice-seeking nature and reach some level of pure life and the status of Khalifatollah (viceroy of God on the Earth).
Comparing the humanistic and Islamic visions, he added that man relying on humanism tries to put his nature at the service of his instinct, however, Islam puts human instinct at the service of his nature so that he should adjust his instinctive behavior based on a desire for perfection where nature of man is revealed by five elements of reflection, belief, knowledge, practice and morality.
He added that emphasis on memorization used to be known as the main weakness of our educational system. This emphasis converted the minds of students to a tank of knowledge, sometimes without any analysis or application. However, now we lay stress on thinking and research so that student reflect ,rather than memorizing, and believe. Therefore the result of such knowledge is revealed in their good practice that is morality. The five before said elements define the relation of man with himself, god (creator of the world), people (others) and the universe (nature and creatures). This means a person is aware that all happenings in the world are under supervision, approval and protection of God. In other words, God almighty is also considered, however everything used to be attributed only to nature and science, not God as the first cause.
Deputy Minister of Education added, "textbooks are not the only items prepared but different learning packages have been produce appropriate to students' age and sex that are good teaching aids.
By narrating a Hadith on the necessity of documenting new knowledge and experiences, he added, "you have a lot of experiences that can be forgotten soon if you do not record them. So I recommend that you write down your activities so that others can be aware of them not to waste time experiencing things already experienced.
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