This disclosure followed widespread media reports and drew sharp attention to a burgeoning crisis in the Iranian education system.
“Our entire educational foundation relies on teachers, from secretaries to ministers,” Sahrai commented during a press conference post a government board meeting. He further explained, “Whenever a primary teacher is absent, we depend on other teachers to fill in the void, ensuring uninterrupted education.”
While Sahrai laid the blame on previous government policies for the predicament, he was optimistic about his administration’s proactive measures to combat the issue.
Responding to the urgency, the Education Ministry has declared an ambitious plan to hire 75,000 teachers between June to September. Moreover, to tackle the shortage for the ongoing academic year, both retired educators and student teachers have been incorporated into the system.
Although the Iranian government previously aimed to onboard 28,000 teachers via examinations, they could only secure 17,000. Sahrai opined, “Our past strategies over-emphasized on hiring teachers rather than adequately training them. As a result, intake at the Farhangian University plummeted.” He announced a 20% capacity augmentation for the Farhangian University to rectify the skewed training policies.
However, Mohammad Vahidi, an ex-member of the Education and Research Commission of the Parliament, echoed the alarming state, stating that many classrooms across Iran are without educators. This crisis has magnified the cries for “educational justice” and the right to free education.
On the backdrop of World Teacher’s Day or “13 Mehr”, as recognized in the Iranian calendar, UNICEF has focused on the theme of addressing global teacher shortages. Locally, the Azad Union of Workers underscored the importance of enhancing both tangible and intangible benefits to entice competent and passionate individuals to the teaching profession.
Widespread concerns have been expressed over the looming “privatization” of Iran’s education. The Deputy of Elementary Education of Tehran, on October 3rd, remarked on the temporary measures undertaken: “In schools facing teacher shortages, assistants, obligated to teach six hours weekly, will bridge the gap.”
However, grassroots protests, led by families distressed over the missing educators, have been gaining momentum. Reports suggest that in provinces like Bushehr, some classrooms either remain unstaffed or face high teacher attrition rates. Furthermore, situations where over 100 students are supervised by only two teachers are not uncommon, as highlighted by Tasnim’s October 4th report.
Shargh newspaper’s October 1st edition poignantly summarized the challenges facing Iran’s education landscape, underscoring the pressing need for holistic solutions. The amalgamation of teacher shortages, inadequate finances, educational disparities, and declining student performance culminate into an exigent situation warranting immediate attention.
MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu
