TEHRAN -- President Mohammad Khatami here on Monday highlighted the role of education in the infrastructural development of a desirable, civil, efficient and informed society.

Addressing the Minister of Education Morteza Hajji and other senior officials of the ministry, the Iranian president stressed that education provides the link between the system and society, IRNA reported.

Referring to the numerous problems facing the Education Ministry, he said the government has done its best to tackle these problems and has been successful in certain areas.

A model Islamic society is one where ignorance, poverty and corruption do not exist, he added.

Meanwhile, before the president gave his speech, the education minister gave him a briefing on the plans as well as the problems facing teachers and instructors of the ministry.

According to another report, President Khatami trip to was cancelled, Public Relations Office of Presidential Office announced on Monday.

It said that First Vice President Mommad-Reza Aref will go to Khuzestan Province today.

Aref on Tuesday to inaugurate several giant national projects, Governor General of Khuzestan Province Abdolhassan Moqtadaie told IRNA in Khuzestan on Monday.

He said zamzam steel project was the major project to become operational during the president's visit. The sponge iron mill of Zamzam is expected to produce 800,000 tons of sponge iron annually.

Some 186 telecommunications projects are also to start operation during Aref's visit to Khuzestan.

Among other projects, Moqtadaie referred to a 400-bed hospital, and a nursery college.