Now, you will be led by the man of the hour: Prince Khalid Al Faisal, a forward-looking intellectual whose top priority is to elevate the people of this nation to the highest level possible. In taking the helm of the ministry, he will commit to developing teachers, families, and a sturdy but flexible education infrastructure. It is and has always been our collective responsibility to build the nation and citizenry that we strive for. Our success in this effort is determined by the success of our education system, which has the potential to develop the capabilities, principles, and perceptions of our youth. His Majesty the King has chos en the new leader of our nation’s intellectual journey to take up the responsibility of pressing ahead with the education march. It is my firm belief that the future demands all capable people to contribute to this process, help realiz e the nation’s ambitious goals and uplift its young people to the positions they deserve. Your Royal Highness, allow me to thank this distinguished ministry and all its personnel, and express my sincerest appreciation for the time I spent here during my tenure. It was my pleasure to contribute on behalf of Al Aghar Group to the creation of the Knowledge Family Award presented by the Neighborhood School Clubs. Perhaps this award will help boost ties between the clubs and families in the local communities, and bolster the collaborative effort that is at the core of knowledge societies. May Allah bestow His blessings to our efforts and grant us all success in our efforts to serve our beloved nation and its people. May He protect His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and give Your Royal Highness the strength to take on this responsibility and implement the ministry’s mission. Life After Service After a long journey of responsibilities and duties, and after demonstrating my loyalty to the nation, I went back to life as an ordinary citizen hoping to satisfy his own conscience and to please his Creator. The experiences that I gained would now help me continue the path that I have spent years forging. I have long hoped and dreamed that I would see my nation and its people progress to a position that emanates with morality and compassion. Today’s message is one of building and development; a message of justice, fraternity, and stability; a message of free choice and investment. As the poet T.S. Eliot once wrot e, “We shall not cease from exploration / And at the end of all our exploring / Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the first time.” Reflecting on this verse today, I recognize that I now see things from a different perspective. This new outlook not only impacts me, but will go on to influence my greater environment as well. This is an allegory for the nation, which changes just as those within it change. Upstanding, productive, and capable citizens, who are firm in their national devotion, make up the foundation of all developments. Wealth, earnings, and resources will not last nor will they have real impact if those in charge fail to utilize them to support sustainable development. My long-held sense of hope derives from my faith in Allah and my confidence in the people of this great nation, particularly the youth. In light of the rapid achievements we are making through massive projects aimed at diversifying our sources of revenue, creating jobs for our young people, and building a base of sustainable growth, I am all the more resolute in my belief that education is the foundation of proper development. Since the beginning of my work in education, I have maintained that long- term prosperity is achieved through investment in science and education. These investments yield
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