TAIPING: The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah said the country would be producing 'robotic' individuals who function in a mechanical manner if spiritual strength were not built in them from an early age.
"Internal strength including spiritual is the main bastion to prevent and protect mankind from easily succumbing to lust and greed.
"Internal and spiritual strength will avoid mankind from committing acts that are against the principles of humanity, against the law and against religious teachings," the sultan said in his speech at the state-level Teacher's Day celebration 2016 at Sekolah Menengah Sains Raja Tun Azlan Shah, here, yesterday.
At the event, Sultan Nazrin presented the Perak Distinguish Teacher Award to Abd Majid Yusof, 62, former head of the Management Division, Perak Education Department.
The sultan said the Cabinet Committee had in 1979, resolved to emphasise on the importance of inculcating noble values through the national education system.
He said the (Cabinet Committee) report also stressed on the importance of producing a united, well trained and disciplined people, besides the importance of moral education.
"The report indicated that the goals and aspirations of our national education system would not be achieved if these were not based on noble values."
To build a society with noble values, Sultan Nazrin said, the achievements of a school should not be measured too much in terms of quantity or marked by obsession for excellence.
He said this was because producing individuals with noble souls was more important than producing individuals with mere academic excellence.
"The higher the academic qualification of a person, the bigger the responsibility given, thus the greater need for the person to be anchored with noble values."
Sultan Nazrin said although the country had the National Education Blueprint 2013-2025, aspects related to noble values should not be sidelined, especially at a time when the world was increasingly influenced by materialism.
On the Teacher's Day 2016 theme of 'Teachers as Nation Builders', the sultan said it portrayed educators' role as community architects and social engineers in building a successful and glorious nation.
"Not all students will end up as president or prime minister, or court chief judge, university vice-chancellor or chief executive of a renowned company.
"Nevertheless, each student can be moulded to be an invaluable asset and patriotic citizen to the nation."
At the event, Sultan Nazrin also expressed his appreciation to all teachers for their services and contributions to nation-building, and prayed that their good deeds would receive divine blessings.
"Behind our success, were teachers who tirelessly, patiently, diligently, honestly and sincerely taught, guided, encouraged and inspired us," he said. — Bernama
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