Iran's Coordination Council of Teachers' Unions Criticizes Expansion of Basij Influence in Education System

The Coordination Council of Teachers' Unions in Iran criticized the expansion of Basij influence in the education system and the continued repression of educators. The Telegram channel of this national teachers' organization wrote on Thursday, September 6, that during the presidency of Ebrahim Raisi, 'the ratio of those accepted in teacher exams and admission to the Teacher Training University has changed significantly to three to one' and added: 'Individuals with lower academic scores were accepted in exams due to new selective influences, especially based on membership in Basij and other criteria.' The report emphasized that 'disqualifications increased from one percent to double-digit figures during Raisi's term,' and 'Sajjad Sadeghi, head of the Basij at the Teacher Training University and advisor to the human resources of the Ministry, played a key role in this process by pressuring the selection process and conducting a more thorough examination of individuals' online activities.' 'Monitoring social networks such as Instagram and Telegram,' and 'using software to analyze individuals' presence in various virtual groups' were among the methods the council referred to as 'ways to suppress students.' Additionally, it mentioned 'Hosseini Davoodalmousavi, director of the Secretariat of the Supreme Selection Board of the Ministry of Education, and Amir Mousavi, head of the Coordination Office of the Administrative Violations Investigation Boards, as the main agents behind the dismissal of teachers, especially union activists.' Previously, Mohammad Habibi, a member of the Tehran Teachers' Union, wrote on the social network 'X' that 'over 330 teachers have been dismissed in the past two years due to their union and civil activities, and thousands of other teachers have received other disciplinary actions.' In this context, the website 'Shenasnameh Ghanoun' published a notice in May this year regarding the 'complementary evaluation and selection process' for teachers hired in education, which stated that 'activity in revolutionary institutions' including Basij and Quranic education has become one of the hiring conditions. The notice emphasized that candidates for teaching positions must have 'certificates related to educational, research, and jihadist activities.' Candidates are also required to provide 'documentation of their teaching experiences and activities in higher education, jihadist groups, schools, cultural, educational, and research centers.' According to the report, in another action in the 'soldier teacher' directive, approved by the cabinet on May 29, 2024, it was noted that priority in recruiting soldier teachers is given to 'active Basij members and those with supplementary cards.' In recent years, educators and teachers have consistently expressed their union demands, including employment conditions, improved benefits, and recently, reforming the ranking process in various forms. Protests and the potential for their expansion to other professions have become more pronounced in recent months. In contrast, the Islamic Republic has attempted to suppress protests by intensifying security and judicial crackdowns on protesting teachers and their union activists.