Former Indian President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam has highlighted the dynamic role played by the youth in changing the world, during the 26th annual conference of principals of CBSE-affiliated schools in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries in New Delhi.

“Igniting the minds of the youth is the most powerful resource on earth, above the earth and under the earth,” he said, addressing the conference attendees.

Kalam expressed his conviction that the youth’s power, if properly directed and controlled, could bring about transformational changes in humanity and achieve peace and prosperity.

“It is the sacred duty of principals, teachers, and parents to inspire the youth with a value-based education system, guiding them toward a mission in life and also make them imbibe the values of the countries of their origin as well as the countries they are growing up in,” the former president said. The motto of education must be “Creating great citizens,” he added.

Kalam told the principals that they have a tremendous responsibility in transforming a child into a leader — the transformation of “What can you do for me” to “What can I do for you.”

This, he said, will demand from a principal to be a visionary with an inspiring capability. A principal has to be a good teacher himself. Students’ capabilities and creativity will emerge through the integrated influence of principals, teachers and parents.

He emphasized that in order to develop “Dynamic schools” in the 21st century, educators must exercise moral leadership, develop a new vision of schools and schooling, and a vision of an educational environment in which students can grow more autonomous through the very act and process of learning.

“Such an education will create committed leaders who will transform any nation into a prosperous, peaceful, secure and happy nation,” Kalam said in his inspiring speech.

EK Mohammed Shaffe, principal of International Indian School Dammam presided over the session.

Vineet Joshi, chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), interacted with the principals and answered their queries.

The principals from Saudi Arabia had raised some pertinent issues being faced by their students owing to Nitaqat and other residency related issues. Joshi said some concessional steps might be taken in such cases regarding attendance and compulsory appearance of both SA-1 and SA-2 examinations with permission from the chairman of the CBSE or the concerned board officials.

He also agreed on the need to organize more workshops for teachers on different subjects in Saudi Arabia and also on designing question papers. The CBSE chief assured that the request for commencing an evaluation center in Saudi Arabia would be considered favorably and will be forwarded to the HRD Ministry for approval.

The four-day conference was hosted by the Saudi Chapter of CBSE affiliated Schools in the Gulf.

Salman Khursheed, union minister for foreign affairs, inaugurated the event, which saw speeches by famous educationists like Prof. Dinesh Singh, vice chancellor of Delhi University; Zameeruddin Shah, vice chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University; and cricket legend Kapil Dev.