The leadership of education based on the statements of Imam Khamenei (may his dignity be preserved)

This qualitative study aims to conduct a strategic analysis of the education system based on the statements of Imam Khamenei (may his dignity be preserved). In this research, all statements related to the topic of education were examined using the official website of the Supreme Leader. A total of 188 documents—including speeches, messages, news items, and excerpts of statements—from the beginning of his leadership until the end of autumn 2023 were analyzed using thematic content analysis.

The research findings were categorized into 3 overarching themes, 16 organizing categories, and 43 basic codes:

1. Goals and Status of Education (comprising 4 categories)

2. Major Issues in the Education System (comprising 8 categories)

3. General Strategic Directions of Education (comprising 4 categories)

The analysis of these themes indicates that, from the perspective of the Supreme Leader, the educational system must be founded on Islamic principles, the nurturing of committed and capable human resources, intellectual and scientific independence, and resistance against imported models. This paper proposes a strategic model offering a framework for educational policymaking based on the discourse of the Islamic Revolution.