A Teachers' Union Activist: 'Morad Sahraei' Monetized Education Quality

Mohammad Habibi, a teachers' union activist, has reviewed the record of Reza Morad-Sahraei in education and deemed it 'lamentable,' stating that Morad-Sahraei considered better education contingent upon payment. Habibi pointed to the statements of the Ministry of Education spokesperson, who said, 'The ministry is handed over to the new government like a bouquet of flowers,' noting that during Morad-Sahraei's tenure, hundreds of teacher trainees, novice teachers, and teachers' union activists were expelled from the Ministry of Education. This activist emphasized that while there is pride in the dismissal and transfer of 20,000 managers, the Ministry of Education currently faces an 'uber crisis' with a shortage of over 200,000 educational staff. The article highlights that during Sahraei's tenure, the number of out-of-school children rose to over one million. Habibi noted that the number of 'container schools' increased during Morad-Sahraei's time in education. He also mentioned that the share of education in the budget bill from public resources decreased by more than one percent. According to this civil activist, the performance of the Ministry of Education in conducting final exams has also been 'catastrophic.' Class-based education is one of the main criticisms of Reza Morad Sahraei's ministry, with Habibi noting that his performance led to only 2% of university entrants in recent years coming from low-income households with ranks below three thousand. Reports indicate that over eighty-five percent of admissions to top universities come from the top three income deciles of society. Habibi wrote that this is the result of a minister who proudly viewed better education as contingent upon paying more money. Alongside Habibi's criticisms of the Ministry of Education, one can point to the ministry's main approach in the area of educational content, which underwent significant changes. Reforming educational content in schools and aligning education with the ideologies of the Islamic Republic is a topic that has received less attention but could have a significant impact on Iran's future, according to experts. In this regard, the Director General of 'Witness and Veterans Affairs' at the Ministry of Education announced in Bahman 1401 that a new approach in education had begun, stating, 'The promotion of martyrdom culture in schools has started, and the content of textbooks will also change with this approach.' Zahra Panahi Rava emphasized that textbooks will gradually change, and all topics related to 'promoting martyrdom' will be considered in upcoming changes. Changing textbook content has been a concern of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic for years. Ali Khamenei has repeatedly shown sensitivity to the content of textbooks and has called for a review of educational topics. In Ordibehesht 1401, during a meeting with a group of teachers and educators from across the country, he said, 'Useless content in textbooks must be removed.' The slogan 'Shout, shout, against all this injustice' was heard at the gathering of retired civil servants in front of the Ministry of Education. Protests by literacy movement forces in front of the Ministry of Education. The slogan of protesting retirees in Tehran and Kermanshah: 'Shout, shout, against all this injustice.' Continued pressure on teachers and teachers' union activists in Iran; Sara Siahpour was summoned to the Revolutionary Court. The reduction of the education budget coincides with over 900,000 children dropping out of school. Protests by telecommunications retirees in several provinces; literacy movement employees and car voucher holders gathered in Tehran. The new school year is approaching with a shortage of 80,000 teachers.