A Professional Organization: School Students Become Victims of Ideological Education

On Tuesday, November 28, the Coordinating Council of Teachers' Trade Unions in Iran condemned the "sacrificing of students under the pressures of ideological education in schools" in a statement. This nationwide teachers' organization pointed to the "bitter and heartbreaking" news of the suicides of Arzu Khavari and Aynaaz Karimi, two students, in November of this year, describing it as indicative of the "depth of the catastrophe" in the educational and social structure of Iran, which has inflicted a "deep and incurable wound on the body of society." The council emphasized that these suicides demonstrate how "ideological and repressive policies can lead hopeful adolescents to the brink of destruction." The statement noted that "the deaths of Arzu Khavari and Aynaaz Karimi, like the victims of past events, symbolize the sacrifice of freedom seekers against repressive structures." The Coordinating Council of Teachers' Trade Unions in Iran stated that "the imposition of ideological pressures, mandatory hijab, and class-based education is a clear violation of human and educational rights and must be stopped immediately." The organization demanded that students "have the right to free, quality, and equal education in an environment free from violence, threats, and coercion" and added: "Schools should be spaces for the free growth of students' personalities and identities, not places for training compliant, obedient, and repressed individuals." The council's statement also included the demand that "no individual should be deprived of their basic rights due to their gender, nationality, or identity" and added that "the current educational system, which is rooted in a discourse based on political ideology, is inherently at odds with creative and critical education." In this context, the council deemed it necessary that "educational departments, which are tools for imposing ideology, be removed from schools or adopt an approach that meets the current needs of society, utilizing progressive psychologists, counselors, and social workers to assist students." The nationwide teachers' organization in Iran emphasized that all independent trade, civil, and political institutions must defend the rights of students and children with "solidarity and empathy," stating: "We will not allow any human being to become a victim of repressive policies and ideological education." The Coordinating Council of Teachers' Trade Unions in Iran also called for "the accountability and trial of all officials who have endangered students' lives through threats and psychological pressures" and stressed that "without fundamental review and change of educational policies and programs, these tragedies will recur." Previously, a survey by the Ham Mihan newspaper indicated that from the beginning of Farvardin (March 21) to November 22, 1403, at least 16 students had attempted suicide, of which three were saved through intervention by intervention centers or organizations, while 13 lost their lives. This report, referencing the deaths of Aynaaz Karimi and Arzu Khavari in the past week and their wide reflection in the media, noted that news of student suicides has been published periodically over the past eight months. A review of official and several unofficial sources shows that there has not been a month this year in which a student, whether successful or unsuccessful, has not attempted suicide.