Teachers instrumental in producing courteous society - Rais

Teachers should continue to champion various aspects cultural education in an effort to produce a courteous society, said Social Affairs and Culture Adviser to the government Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim.

As the torch of civilisation, he said teachers should continue to uphold values that could be instilled in the younger generation.

Wishing them a happy Teachers' Day, which is celebrated today, he said, the process of producing a polite society begins with teachers who could stoke the fire of the struggle to uphold national culture.

He was speaking to reporters after officiating the Nusantara Culture Lecture organised by the Malaysia-Indonesia People's Solidarity Foundation (YIRMI) here Thursday.

Meanwhile, Rais, who is also YIRMI founder, said a roadshow involving Malaysian and Indonesian universities would be organised by the foundation to inculcate values of the archipelago among students.

He said it would start with Malaysian students, journalists and writers visiting Aceh, Makassar and Jakarta after Aidilfitri.

The programme, which features Islamic values and language, could help students to be open minded and progressive in outlook, he added.