Dubai: Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam yesterday asked teachers to nurture their students to become unique individuals.
The former Indian President called Shaikh Zayed a great example of unique creativity in leadership and called on the youth in the country to look up to him.
Radio 2: Former Indian President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam asks students to look up to Shaikh Zayed
* Audio supplied by Radio 2
Dr Abdul Kalam is in the UAE at the invitation of Delhi Private School (DPS) Sharjah to preside over their tenth anniversary celebrations. Over the decade, the school has grown to be one of the pioneering schools in the country with more than 5,000 students.
"I have met, so far, 11 million youth in a decade's time, in India and abroad. I learnt: Every youth wants to be unique. But the world all around you, is doing its best, day and night, to make you just ‘everybody else'."
"Teachers' mission is to empower and transform children into enlightened citizens by imparting quality educational practices with value system," Abdul Kalam said.
The primary mission of a teacher is to make children unique, he stressed.
He was speaking at a teacher's forum at DPS Sharjah attended by 600 teachers from various schools. "The founder of UAE [Shaikh Zayed] is indeed a great example of unique leadership of creativity", he said, calling on the youth in the UAE to look no further for a better role model in leadership.
"He had the vision to transform a desert to the beautiful place that we see today in just 35 years".
The prime learning environment is five to seventeen years of age for over 25,000 hours, he noted, adding that education with value system has to be so designed that the righteousness in the heart is developed in young minds. "That should be the mission of education."
Power and influence
"Give me a child for seven years; afterwards, let God or [the] devil take the child. They cannot change the child," he quoted an ancient Greek teacher's saying. "This indicates the power of great teachers."
Abdul Kalam captivated the audience with his anecdotes and rich experience as he went from being a little-educated boat owner's son to a top defence scientist and the eleventh President of India.
He recalled his teacher Shri Sivasubramania Iyer who taught him when he was ten years old. "He taught us how the birds fly, in the class room and later by taking us to the sea shore to give [a] practical example.
"The way he taught, gave me what to dream in life and what should be the pattern of education which I have to follow. This race of teachers of excellence should multiply."
Big buildings or labs or infrastructure will not create a dynamic school environment, but great teachers who love teaching and with great vision will, he added.
