SAEDNEWS: The President’s Social Assistant said that the Fourteenth Administration has taken effective measures in the fight against school dropout, including identifying students and providing them with skills training in various provinces.
According to the political desk of SaedNews, Ali Rabiei said on Saturday at the unveiling ceremony of the Literacy Award call for entries and the honoring of contributors to this field in Ardabil: “We need to expand literacy in the country, and we have achieved good progress and rankings in improving literacy indicators.”
He stated that literacy indicators, along with skill training, have improved nationwide, adding: “Only three percent of elderly villagers in the country are illiterate, and the rest of the population has sufficient literacy. The government's main focus is on preventing educational deprivation at the primary level.”
He continued: “Significant progress has been made in identifying children who have dropped out of school, through coordination between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Welfare across the country.”
The President’s Social Assistant emphasized that most cases of dropping out of school are due to disabilities, and educational opportunities have been provided for these individuals as well.
Rabiei noted that focusing on preventing dropout at the primary level has been successful, adding: “Our main concern now is preventing students from leaving school and encouraging them to pursue technical skills.”
He stated that the policy adopted by the Technical and Vocational Council, chaired by the First Vice President, directs efforts toward learning and technical skill enhancement—especially bringing universities closer to skill-based education.
He added: “There are over 21 million university graduates in the country who, despite unjust sanctions, have achieved significant scientific success. If the pressure of these sanctions is reduced, we will witness a major leap in our universities.”
The President’s Social Assistant said that cognitive, emotional, physical, and scientific skills—alongside digital skills—are essential for today’s society. He added: “We should not fear change or transformative thinking, as avoiding it keeps society in an orthodox, closed state. We need forward-looking thinking.”
Rabiei said: “Society must adapt to change; otherwise, like the giant dinosaurs, it will disappear.”
He added that society needs to return to books and reading, saying: “In border and nomadic regions, establishing cultural and public libraries is essential, and philanthropists can play an influential role in building schools and promoting a culture of reading.”
The President’s Social Assistant continued: “Educational philanthropists are not only school builders—they are also school supporters. Literacy promotion can be another important aspect of this collective effort.”
