The Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage, Heena Waleed, has declared that the vitality of a nation depends directly on the degree to which it fosters intellectual and critical minds.
Minister Heena made the remarks while officiating the first session of Villa College’s graduation ceremony held today for students completing programmes in administration, teaching, and education.
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Addressing the graduates, the Minister noted that ceremonies marking the graduation of Maldivians in sectors critical to national development always bring joy to the country. She highlighted that a nation’s development relies on cultivating intellectual and reflective minds, adding that the country warmly welcomes all graduating students.
Minister Heena stressed that a country fosters an intellectual spirit and critical thinking primarily through its upbringing and educational systems. She stated that the environment in which a child grows up, along with the instruction they receive, plays a central role in shaping their cognitive development.
Responsibility for instilling an intellectual spirit and sustaining a nation through innovative and critical thinking rests heavily on educators and professionals within the upbringing and teaching sectors, the Minister asserted. She emphasized that teachers serve as the primary force sustaining a nation from one generation to the next.
“Knowledge is not merely something acquired to secure employment,” Minister Heena said. “It is an illuminating light within a person. This light fosters innovative thought within society, delivering safety, stability, and happiness. It establishes a robust economy and expands prosperity. Every civilisation throughout world history advanced because educators nurtured and taught generations on this foundation. This remains the greatest truth demonstrated by global history.”
The Minister stressed that building a prosperous and complete nation requires individuals who think deeply, maintain foresight, and prioritise the national interest over individual concerns.
She further noted that producing intellectual minds alone is insufficient. A nation requires cultivated virtues, including adherence to ethics, respect for human dignity, regard for diverse viewpoints, and a commitment to seeking the truth in all matters.
Minister Heena reminded the audience that as individuals step into public life as educated professionals, society will evaluate them not only on their knowledge and abundance of information, but also on the honesty and integrity within their character. She concluded by stating that the future of the nation rests firmly in the hands of its educators.
