Education Council: Arabic Learning 'Mandatory' and English 'Optional'

The government of Ebrahim Raisi has declared that learning English and several other languages in schools is optional, but emphasized that learning Arabic, as the 'language of the Quran', is mandatory. Fatemeh Ramazani, the secretary of the Curriculum and Educational Commission of the Supreme Education Council, stated on Sunday, July 16, that students must choose between English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, and Arabic. She told the Tasnim news agency, close to the Revolutionary Guards, that 'Arabic language education as the language of the Quran is mandatory in the first and second secondary education,' and then 'students can choose Arabic from the offered languages to communicate with Arabic speakers and gain more fluency in conversation.' Tasnim described this decision as 'creating diversity in foreign language education based on the new needs and demands of students' but did not elaborate on this 'new need and demand of students.' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, in May 2016, called the 'insistence on promoting the English language' an 'unhealthy act' and stated that 'in other countries, they prevent the influence, interference, and expansion of foreign languages.' However, in the same speech, he mentioned that 'other languages like Spanish, French, German, and Eastern countries are also languages of science.' Foreign languages such as French and German are taught in universities. According to reports from some media, many students in Iran have previously complained about the low quality of foreign language education, especially Arabic in schools, stating that it has not helped them in studying current Arabic materials. Despite this, Fatemeh Ramazani pointed out that the government has considered ways to provide the necessary teaching staff for these languages in schools, saying, 'If the required teachers are not available, non-in-person education will be used.' Nevertheless, Fatemeh Ramazani stated, 'The number of students volunteering for other foreign languages is not high enough to form independent classes.' English is recognized as the language of communication for people around the world. Additionally, many researchers worldwide publish their articles in English. Some Chinese families have previously sent their children to teachers who traveled from the U.S. to China to teach English to their children. Faraj Sarkouhi: Ideological and authoritarian governments turn language into a propaganda tool by 'encroaching on language.' Approval of teaching seven foreign languages in schools: 'Mandatory' education and 'optional' choice. Khamenei on 'Teacher's Day' without mentioning poisoning: Teachers should feel responsible. Deputy Minister of Education: Language books will be changed 'according to the views' of the Supreme Leader.