Halting Educational Development Under the Pretext of Budget Shortages; Ministry of Oil Builds Mosques

One day after Masoud Pezeshkian spoke about the lack of funds for building schools, the newspaper Jomhouri Eslami criticized the Ministry of Oil's approach to mosque construction, stating that "the relationship between the Ministry of Oil and mosques must be clarified" and "certain cultural institutions must also take responsibility for equipping oil regions and injecting gas into oil wells, while certain social organizations should manage oil tankers." This criticism from Jomhouri Eslami confirms the ideological and slogan-driven approach in the governance of the Islamic Republic, where development is not prioritized. This criticism comes at a time when Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Thursday, January 24, in a gathering of educators in Khuzestan province that "we decided to build all schools within a year, but we have no money." In response to requests and protests, Pezeshkian remarked that "any signature you want from government officials will be given, but they do not have the money to provide." The lack of funds for projects such as ensuring school safety, building schools in deprived areas, and meeting basic needs including drinking water and sanitation in many regions of Iran is highlighted, while billions of dollars are spent annually by various institutions of the Islamic Republic, from ministries to municipalities and local organizations, on the regime's ideological goals, including events like the "Arbaeen" pilgrimage or "Raheeyan Noor" tours. However, Jomhouri Eslami criticized the Ministry of Oil, stating, "We hope this trend ends in the new government, and the Ministry of Oil focuses solely on oil work. Mosques and prayer niches have their own divine purpose." Spending budgets on religious centers and mosque construction occurs while media reports indicate a severe decline in the education per capita in the country. The educational crisis has even manifested in the capital, with the government news agency Tasnim reporting that education officials emphasize the need for 695 15-classroom schools in Tehran's counties to prevent excessive classroom density. Tasnim reported in November of this year that some classrooms in Tehran host 40 to 50 students, which has led to a decline in educational quality. Criticism from students in a village in Sarbaz County regarding the lack of school transportation, 1500 classrooms lacking heating and cooling systems in Sistan and Baluchestan, government deflection regarding overcrowding in Tehran schools, over 8,000 classrooms in Tehran being unsafe, and the expansion of the "Judge in School" initiative in Iranian schools.