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Mohammad Habibi

In the year 95, it was not a pleasant year for the public education system of the country. The remaining of Baloch teacher, Hamid Gangoozehi, to save the lives of his students at the beginning of the new year, the suicides of several retired teachers due to poverty and destitution, and news of students being punished in schools, were all signs of the ongoing chaotic situation in this sick structure.

Shortage of facilities and lack of adequate budget for equipping schools, along with non-payment of retired and employed teachers’ salaries, continued as in previous years. With the increase in protests on social media and in the media, we witnessed the forced resignation of the Minister of Education. The change that seemed to be just a few months before the end of the government’s term was more of a political show; an attempt to attract teachers’ attention towards the government and reduce protests.

What was more than anything else putting the ephemeral under the blade of criticism by activists in the trade and media was the inability to attract a suitable budget for this largest government ministry. But the proposed budget by the government for the year 2017 also showed that the source of neglect for public education lies within the government itself, especially the Organization for Planning and Budget. It seems that the overall policy for public education is following the same path that has been drawn for higher education in the country for decades. A path that will undoubtedly result in the destruction of free public education, contrary to the principle of Article 30 of the Constitution, and an increase in the number of children who drop out of school. A policy that has led to a decrease in the quality of higher education and the proliferation of the sale of academic degrees. It does not seem that with the continuation of these policies in education, a better fate awaits the public education of the country.

Despite these challenges, the professional and media activities of teachers continued in this year, just like previous years, although with ups and downs. Holding public meetings, ongoing arrests and convictions of union activists, consecutive gatherings of retired cultural workers, media activities, and creating campaigns by union activists to influence the proposed budget for education and training, and ultimately the 19th of Esfand (March 9th) gathering, were a series of activities that took place in 95 (2016-2017) and are listed below.

Holding public meetings

While about 10 years had passed since the last general meetings of trade unions, in the year 95 we witnessed a relative opening and holding of general meetings of trade unions in dozens of provinces across the country. However, the issuance of these permits was not without restrictions and special conditions. The Iranian Teachers’ Trade Union received permission to hold its general meeting on the condition that it change its constitution from a national organization to a provincial one, with its scope of activities limited to the province of Tehran. Accepting these conditions, trade union activists aimed to create a platform for greater participation of teachers in trade union activities. However, a decade of security pressures, arrests, and suppression of trade union activists had created conditions where we were almost not seeing a significant presence of teachers in all the provinces where general meetings were held. In addition, some influential trade unions, including the Hamedan Teachers’ Union, which had been in charge of coordinating council for several years, are still deprived of holding their general meeting

National gatherings of cultural retirees.

In 1395 (2016-2017), we witnessed consecutive gatherings of retired teachers in Tehran and other cities of the country. The optimal use of social networks provided an opportunity for retired educators to organize and lead such successful civil gatherings with exemplary unity. This was happening while for a long time, and even during the gatherings, meeting and negotiating with government officials and members of parliament were on the agenda of the organizers of retired gatherings. These meetings were often fruitless and did not provide a suitable response to their demands. Implementation of the law on management of public services, harmonization of the rights of old and new retirees, and gradual increase in the pension of retired teachers to be in line with other retirees in the country were among the demands and requests that retired teachers pursued in their professional gatherings.

Although despite negotiations, letter writing and consecutive gatherings of retired cultural workers, as a result of the neglect of government officials, there was no significant change in their living conditions in 2016; however, the media coverage of these gatherings and their continuity showed a new chapter in the activities of retired cultural workers. Activities that have taken shape without the presence and effective support of professional organizations and with the help of social networks, have become cohesive and continued.

A campaign with 140,000 signatures.

In February 2017, a campaign titled “Fair Budget Campaign” was launched by some teachers and union activists in the virtual space. This campaign, which aimed to influence the government’s proposed budget to the parliament, was met with remarkable support from educators. The collection of one hundred and forty thousand virtual and handwritten signatures from teachers across the country was an unprecedented action in recent years in the field of union activities. However, the focus of this campaign was not only on economic issues; it also protested against the lack of facilities in schools, emphasized on free education, and demanded appropriate budget allocation for education in underprivileged areas. Although the campaign ultimately ended with presenting the signatures to the parliament members and providing them with a report on the problems in education, the widespread media coverage and remarkable support from educators showed the depth of dissatisfaction among teachers with their economic and professional situation.

Nationwide gathering on the 19th of Esfand month.

The last widespread gathering of teachers was held on the 31st of July, 2015, which resulted in a severe clash with security forces and the detention of over 150 teachers. After that, until the 19th of February, 2017, no other professional gathering was planned or organized by working teachers. During the years 2015 and 2016, the activities of teachers’ unions were solely focused on meeting with government officials, members of parliament, and educational authorities. Alongside these negotiations, issuing statements and media activities to address educational and professional issues were also on the agenda of union activists. Presenting numerous reports on the dire economic situation of teachers and the increasing educational problems in schools, especially with the change of the Minister of Education, had created the expectation that the 2017 education budget would be able to address the demands put forth. However, even the proposed budget by the government was met with objections from educational authorities. In these circumstances, it was predictable that