From the poor to the disabled, from those destined to be leaders to the teachers who will shape the next generation, no one was to be left out.
He spelt out four key goals: providing many peaks of excellence for different abilities and talents; levelling up educational opportunities for all; creating stronger bonds to the country, and building a first-class teaching force.
'Education is one of our top national priorities,' he said last night at the Teachers' Day Rally, an event held every five years.
He began by noting that education is not just the most precious gift, but also the most critical investment and most effective success strategy for a changing world.
But it is not just about pumping in money and people. A strong team must be gathered with the right goals and principals and teachers must be motivated to give their best.
As he dwelt on each of the four goals, Mr Lee painted the picture of a comprehensive education system that caters to everyone, from those without academic inclination to those with special needs.
In his optimistic vision, he filled in the details with examples and anecdotes of schools at their best. Northland Secondary School, for example, received mention for its hockey hits - over 90 awards in the last decade - as did students from the Normal Technical stream.
'We must provide many paths for our students to grow and develop and to build up this whole mountain range of excellence, so that individually they are strong, but as a team we are invincible,' he told 7,000 principals and teachers during the rally at Singapore Expo.
Schools with different expertise and specialisations are emerging. And strong niche programmes like Northland's are to be encouraged. As Mr Lee sees it, neighbourhood schools can do it too - they do not need to come from just the independent and autonomous institutions.
In five years' time, the school landscape will be even more diverse, he promised. Instead of just 10 per cent of the schools having niche programmes, the proportion will grow to 33 per cent.
He urged students: 'Choose the path which fits you, then do well. When you excel, many possibilities open up.'
But more than just providing a buffet of choices, society here will be levelled up through education.
With the widening income gap, Mr Lee said the solution lies in education - giving children from poor families the 'best possible start' in life and the chance to do better than their parents.
'If you are poor, don't worry about school. We will make sure you can afford school,' he pledged, citing the Opportunity Funds and other schemes to help those from lower-income homes.
Dropout rates will also be reduced. The target: halve the present 3 per cent of students who do not complete secondary education to 1.5 per cent in five years.
Mr Lee also stressed the importance of building stronger emotional ties with the young, especially among those who could be leaders of the next generation.
Looking at the best schools in countries like Australia and the United Kingdom, he noted that they emphasised not only the academic side, but also character and leadership development.
Mr Lee said local institutions could learn more from these overseas schools to develop students with 'a sense of mission and a sense of readiness to serve'.
But they will be 'open, inclusive, non-elitist', he stressed.
To achieve all these goals, first-class teachers are a must, he added in his first teachers' day rally as Prime Minister.
He urged teachers to work with parents, and reiterated the groundbreaking 'teach less, learn more' message he first delivered in his inaugural National Day Rally in 2004.
On the eve of Teachers' Day, he pledged the Government's 'full backing and support'.
His audience overwhelmingly voiced approval of his inclusive approach towards all students.
Said Mrs Ravinderjit Kaur of Sengkang Primary School: 'I'm so inspired by his speech that when I go back to school, I'll do a much better job than before.'