President Nayib Bukele emphasized the importance of education and civic values as the cornerstone of El Salvador’s future, underscoring that the country’s recent achievements in security must be sustained through long-term cultural and educational change.
In his address, the president recalled the historic step of incarcerating 80,000 criminals to restore peace, while stressing that future generations must not face the same challenges. “The true independence lies in educating and planting differently,” Bukele affirmed, highlighting that education goes beyond science and mathematics—it must also form citizens with respect, discipline, civility, and responsibility.
The president called for instilling basic values from an early age, such as courtesy, responsibility, and respect for public spaces. He argued that shaping the youth is essential to avoid repeating past mistakes, since correcting adults who grew up without values is “practically impossible.”
Bukele concluded that these cultural changes, while seemingly small, are transformative for society. By prioritizing education and values, El Salvador seeks to ensure a future rooted in respect, coexistence, and responsibility, preventing a return to the violence of the past.