“I can’t handle these kids anymore, they’re constantly causing chaos and don’t pay attention to their studies. They’re not on the right path. I don’t know what parents are going through with them.” These were the words of retired teacher Sharifi, who I used to work with last school year. “I was hired thirty-five years ago, retired, and now I work as a driver for Snapp. When they called me to come teach, I was stuck in traffic, I didn’t know I would be so stressed. They don’t even pay us our teaching salary on time.” These were the words of a tired man, evident from the lines on his face. One of his daughters is a university student, another is married, and his son is unemployed despite having a bachelor’s degree. His retirement income is not enough to cover his living expenses. He says, “When my daughter comes home, she doesn’t stay for more than one meal. I’m ashamed that my

In the Islamic Republic of Iran, after the revolution, the education budget has had a downward trend every year, to the point where the majority of the allocated budget is spent on paying the salaries and wages of employees. Despite the fact that almost one-fifth of government employees are working in education, none of the post-revolution governments have been able to allocate a fair share for this organization. As a result, a large number of teachers across the country have turned to second and third jobs, and as a result, they do not have enough motivation to teach responsibly.

Lack of proper budget allocation for this cultural institution has resulted in schools (even in provincial centers) becoming run-down and lacking the necessary facilities for proper education. For example, in most schools in the country, there are no suitable science labs or adequate sports equipment and facilities. Art classes have lost their purpose and teachers and students waste hours in idle art classes. Educational problems in cities and border provinces such as Sistan and Baluchestan, South Khorasan, Kurdistan, and Khuzestan are reported in a disastrous manner. It is worth mentioning that in some areas, classes are held in temporary structures such as trailers.

According to official statistics, in the upcoming academic year, the education system of the country is facing a shortage of 176,000 teachers. (1) In addition, according to the statements of the head of the Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, it is predicted that by the beginning of September 2024, nearly 72,000 teachers will retire. (2) As a result, in the academic year 2024-2025, the number of teacher shortages in the country will reach 248,000, which will lead to a major disaster in education. A disaster that those in charge have no concrete plan to address.

Recently, Rahimi, a member of the Education Commission of the Parliament, announced: “In order to improve the educational situation of the country, the Education Commission has been successful in canceling the retirement restriction for teachers through its efforts.” (3) The employment of retired teachers in education is not a new issue, and for years, decision-makers in the education system have had this solution on their agenda to solve the problem of teacher shortage. Examining the reasons for using this method will bring significant results for readers.

No one is unaware that the expectation of the government from teachers is to raise obedient, imitative, and ideologically bound youth who are unfamiliar with individual rights. In the past 45 years, in addition to promoting hypocrisy and selling out, the government expects students to solidify their submission by learning and memorizing ideological teachings from textbooks. Schools across the country are run in a traditional manner, meaning that the teacher is the sole speaker in the classroom and the student is obligated to sit quietly and listen to the content being taught. In such a system, there is no room for teaching questioning, critical thinking, or creativity. It is clear that this method of running schools, through teachers who have been working in this way for 30 years and have passed the government’s exams, will be more successful. In the past 45 years, it has been proven that the selective education system has attracted teachers who are in line with the government and have aided in creating a closed educational environment in the country.

The value of truths is not in speaking, but in the actions of individuals.

I am sitting down to talk with another retired teacher. He is a graduate of Tehran University. He was employed by the Ministry of Education in 1963 and retired in 1994. This educated teacher now receives a monthly salary of 12 million tomans. He speaks of a person who is a researcher and scientist who has written more than 15 books. He believes that the salary of teachers in Iran has always been lower compared to other government employees, although in some periods, it has increased. However, teachers in Iran have always been oppressed. They believe that the value of facts is not in speaking, but in actions. The people in power only talk, but do not act. The reality is that it is difficult to act. When the lust for power dominates a society, the damage it causes is irreparable. A minister who lacks expertise, motivation, dedication, and faith in the progress of the country cannot transform education. The value of facts lies in the actions of individuals.

The problem of youth unemployment.

According to reports, in 1401 (2022-2023), nearly two and a half million people from the working-age population in Iran were unable to find a job for themselves: “The total population of Iran in the working age population in the summer of this year is estimated at 63 million and 702 thousand people, of which 26 million and 112 thousand are in the economically active population. In simpler terms, 41% of Iranians of working age have a desire to work and are looking for a job, whether they are unemployed or employed. Of the population who had a desire to work in the summer of this year, approximately 2 million and 333 thousand people were unable to find a job for themselves. This number is considered the country’s unemployment rate, which was 8.9% in the summer of this year.” (4) Despite the fact that one of the most vulnerable issues in society is the unemployment of educated individuals in the country, unfortunately,

In this regard, this retired teacher believes: “A teacher who has 30 or 35 years of experience is good to use as a consultant in schools. Someone who has been in old schools for more than 30 years no longer has the ability to teach and cannot connect with young people. It is better to use young people to better communicate with students. This reduces social problems, keeps young people busy, provides classes with teachers, and improves unemployment rates. I’m not saying we shouldn’t use retirees, we can use their experience in brainstorming sessions, but not in the classroom. In culturally advanced countries, there are consultation sessions where retirees can advise managers and ministers because of their experience. Establishing counseling centers for retired personnel or a council for their research is very useful because their experience can help new personnel. In all countries, experience is valued and in all developed countries, teachers who have taught for more than 30 or 35 years are no longer employed in schools. In my opinion

Educational priority and the priority of the Minister of Education and Training.

The main duty of education is to build skilled, innovative, and socially responsible youth. According to conventional definitions around the world, education is the means through which human character flourishes; meaning that a student is entrusted to the country’s education system and the output is a responsible and capable “citizen” who can participate in political, social, and cultural life with a progressive mindset.

Recently, Alireza Kazemi, the appointed Minister of Education in the Medical Government, announced: “Our top priority is prayer and it should be a concern for students.” It is not clear whether this statement is Alireza Kazemi’s true concern or not. In the following paragraphs, we will examine this statement. Our criticism is based on the fact that the Minister of Education, based on his sincere belief and faith, prioritizes “prayer”.

According to official statistics, the number of mosques in Iran is 85,000. The number of Husseiniyas, Mehdiyas, Zeynabiyas, and Tekayas has also been announced as 73,000. (5) According to these statistics, 168,000 mosques and Husseiniyas are active throughout the country, and 1,000 Hawzahs (6) are dedicated to educating religious scholars.

In the 1403 budget, various sources have been allocated for religious and promotional institutions. Only in 25 rows in the budget section of executive agencies, more than 54 trillion tomans have been allocated from the country’s public resources to these institutions. In addition to these rows, in other sections of this year’s budget, other amounts and resources have been allocated for these institutions. According to published statistics, the budget for religious and promotional institutions across the country has increased by 60% compared to the previous year, with 830 trillion tomans allocated to the Islamic Propaganda Office, 7 trillion tomans to seminaries, 160 billion tomans to the Imam’s Works Institute, 1,227 billion tomans to the assistance of clerics, 831 billion tomans to the Islamic Propaganda Office of the seminary, 7,544 billion tomans to the services center of the seminary, 6,962 billion tomans to the Supreme Council

According to the statistics of the Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the budget for education in the year 1403 (2024-2025) is “a total of 278 trillion tomans, including miscellaneous items that have not been implemented.” (9).

Statistical comparison shows that in the years following the revolution, the government has allocated a significant budget for the issue of Islamic propaganda. Now we must ask the Minister of Education: when you declare that your priority in the country’s education system is prayer, does this not mean that the extensive and lengthy apparatus of Islamic propaganda, with its significant budget, has not been able to achieve its ideological goals? Have mosques and seminaries not been able to fulfill their duties properly? Has the system been sterile in achieving its ideological goals? According to the teachings of the Quran, “sincerity” is the duty of every Muslim. This means that teachers, managers, ministers, lawyers, etc. must be sincere. Honorable Minister of Education, they must honestly answer whether these statements mean that the Islamic government has been unable to achieve its goals?

Now that Mr. Alireza Kazemi has prioritized “prayer”, which is the main pillar of the Islamic religion, we speak with him according to his beliefs and literature, and respectfully invite the Minister of Education to follow the Quranic instructions.

According to religious teachings, Islam has three important messages for humanity:

1- The first message is for all people, regardless of religion, faith, color, language, and race. “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” (10)

2- The second message is for the people of the Book: “Say, ‘O People of the Book, come to a word that is equitable between us and you – that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah.’ But if they turn away, then say, ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him].’ (11).”

“Message three is for those who believe in Islam: “The believers are but brothers, so make peace between your brothers and fear Allah that you may receive mercy.” (12).”

The first verse addresses the general public, inviting them to respect the religions and traditions of their ancestors and to distance themselves from racial, ethnic, and religious prejudices. It asks people to follow the path of abstinence and to avoid looking at others with envy and greed. The second verse addresses the followers of monotheistic religions (Zoroastrians, Christians, and Jews). They are asked to strengthen their unity and solidarity through kindness, friendship, and cooperation, and to distance themselves from division and discord. In the third verse, Muslims are called upon to unite and avoid division and discord, warning them to be cautious of conflict and division.

This is while in Iran, the behavior of the government is against these Quranic orders, and the situation of believers in religions other than Islam is faced with numerous restrictions. This narrow-mindedness is even applied to Sunni Muslims. From the beginning of the revolution until today, none of the officials in the top ranks of the country have been chosen from Sunni Muslims. This restriction has advanced to the point where this Islamic group does not even have a mosque in the capital of Iran. Fellow citizens of Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians have never had a role in major decisions of the country. Even Shia Muslims like Yarsanis, fellow citizens of the Ahl-e Haq, who generally believe in the Shia religion, are considered outsiders from the perspective of the government and are not allowed to interfere in the affairs of the country. These fellow citizens even face numerous difficulties in holding religious ceremonies. The events that took place in 1396 on 7th Golestan Street for the

Notes:

“Shortage of 176,000 teachers in the new academic year, Hrana News Agency, 10 Tir month 1403.”

2- The same…

3- In the new academic year, we will face a shortage of 176,000 teachers, according to the Hrana news agency, September 4, 2024.

4- Strange statistics on unemployment rates in Iran, Tabnak website, 16 Azar 1401.

5- Cultural Observation Report (45): Mosques in Iran, website of the Cultural Observation Center of the country, 4 December 2021.

We have 1000 seminaries across the country, Iran Watch, 17 December 1402.

7- Budget bill for 1403; 60% increase in religious and propaganda budget, Iran Budget website, 26 Farvardin month 1403.

8- Review of the second section of the 1403 national budget bill (16): Media and virtual space, Islamic Consultative Assembly Research Center, April 4, 1403.

9- Review of the second part of the budget bill for the year 1403 for the whole country (20): Ministry of Education and Training, Center for Research of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, 8 Ordibehesht 1403.

10- Verse 13 of Surah Al-Hujurat: O people, We have created you all from a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Surely, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.

Verse 64 of Surah Al-Imran: Say, “O People of the Book, let us come to a common word between us and you – that we will not worship anyone except Allah and not associate anything with Him, and not take one another as lords instead of Allah.” But if they turn away, then say, “Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him].”

Verse 10 of Surah Al-Hujurat: Indeed, all believers are brothers, so make peace between your brothers and always be mindful of God and refrain from wrongdoing. Perhaps you will receive mercy and blessings from God.