Mostafa Azarkish, deputy minister for secondary education, made the remarks Sunday at a ceremony to sign memorandums of understanding for energy consumption reduction projects.

In today’s world, conservation does not mean simply using less, Azarkish said. Rather, it means smart, knowledge-based consumption. Students who become familiar with concepts such as conservation and efficiency today, he added, will be influential managers in the future.

He pointed to the petrochemical industry’s valuable role in equipping schools with new technologies and said promoting energy conservation is a key priority for the education system. That focus is a national necessity, he said, as the country’s resources must be managed more effectively, with conservation serving as one of the main tools.

Azarkish emphasized that the future of the country’s energy sector lies in the hands of today’s students. Given current challenges, he said, understanding conservation concepts is a national imperative for students. The education system, with the active involvement of students and teachers, can play a leading role in shaping a culture of responsible consumption.

“Conservation begins in the classroom,” he said, “and reaches maturity in industry.”