Initiation of Curriculum Changes at the Request of Ali Khamenei: Participation of 7,000 for Reforming 1,500 Curricula

An official from Iran's Ministry of 'Science, Research and Technology' announced the beginning of planning for the 'reform' of university curricula in collaboration with 'over 7,000' faculty members. During the nationwide protests in Iran, which began in September of last year following the death of Mahsa Amini, students and schoolchildren played a prominent role in various cities. The significant presence of students in the protests has once again challenged the educational approaches within the Islamic Republic. Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, has repeatedly called for the Islamicization of educational content; however, over the past four decades, many textbooks and educational materials have been removed from the educational system under the pretext of being Western. Reza Naqizadeh, the director of the Higher Education Planning Office at the Ministry of Science, announced the start of a review of 1,500 curricula and predicted that more than 7,000 faculty members would collaborate with the Ministry of Science in drafting and revising these courses over the next two years. Changes in educational curricula at the school level are also being pursued, as on September 1, 2022, the Ministry of Education announced changes to the content of 200 textbooks at the Supreme Leader's directive. Youssef Noori, the Minister of Education, stated that based on Ali Khamenei's remarks regarding the revision of textbooks and educational content provided to students, the content of 200 titles will change for the next year. The Ministry of Education stated, 'The promotion of the culture of martyrdom in schools has begun, and the content of textbooks will also change with this approach.' The alteration of textbook content has been a concern for the Supreme Leader for years. Ali Khamenei has repeatedly expressed sensitivity towards the content of textbooks and called for a review of educational materials. In May 2022, during a meeting with teachers and educators from across the country, he stated that 'useless content in textbooks should be removed.' Adding political content or propaganda from the controversial military programs of the Islamic Republic to the 'educational system' of students has accelerated in recent years. Alireza Kazemi, the head of the Ministry of Education, stated in November 2021 that the lesson 'Opposition to Imperialism' would be included in textbooks. Creating a specific cultural-educational model for students is not limited to changing textbooks. The 2030 document, which was approved based on a United Nations General Assembly resolution titled '2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development' in September 2015, angered Ali Khamenei, who viewed the implementation of this plan as questioning the country's independence. Ultimately, the implementation of its provisions was halted during Hassan Rouhani's administration, and in Ebrahim Raisi's government, the 'cancellation of the 2030 document' was announced. Ali Khamenei's demand for changes in educational content began in the 1990s. In one of his speeches in 2000, during a meeting with 'seminary students,' he called for planning for reform in the educational system and textbooks of the country's major educational centers, especially education. In May 2014, the Supreme Leader also stated during a meeting with teachers and educators that changes must occur in this system both in terms of format and content. The production of 'educational' animations by 400 'devout' animators in the seminary is also part of the Islamic Republic's education system's pursuit of 'sexual, political, and ideological education' for teachers.