Khamenei on 'Teacher's Day' Without Mentioning Poisonings: Teachers Should Feel Responsible

Amid protests over living conditions from various sectors, including teachers in Iran, Ali Khamenei stated that teachers must feel responsible in 'all dimensions' and that 'it's not just about livelihood.' According to Iranian news agencies, the Supreme Leader on Tuesday, April 12, which is recognized as 'Teacher's Day' in Iran, told a group of educators that 'feeling responsible is in all dimensions' and 'it's not just about livelihood.' Khamenei acknowledged that 'livelihood issues are very important,' but added, 'it's not just about livelihood. It's about learning experiences and skills.' This comes as the minimum livelihood basket has increased by three million tomans from 18 million to 21 million tomans just forty days into the year 1402. Reports indicate that the ranking of teachers has not been properly executed, leading to dissatisfaction among teachers. In addition to the delayed implementation of the ranking law, teachers' back pay has also been delayed, and in some cases, rankings have been disproportionate to teachers' experience and education, with some active union members and protesting teachers receiving the lowest rank as a form of punishment. Khamenei further stated that 'we expect teachers to feel responsible' and that 'a teacher should consider the student as their own child.' In this speech, Khamenei did not mention issues such as the arrest of teacher union activists, widespread protests among educators, the mass detention of students, and the deaths of dozens of them during nationwide protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, nor the ongoing poisonings resulting from attacks with unknown gases in schools across various provinces in Iran. He merely stated that 'school is significant' and that 'efforts should be made for students to attend school.' Khamenei also claimed that the education system has been 'damaged by COVID, seditions, riots, and insecurity in the streets, among other issues,' but did not elaborate on the specifics of 'other issues.' In recent days, 15 civil and union organizations issued a joint statement emphasizing that despite the 'bloody crackdown' on nationwide protests in recent months, society, including 'teachers, workers, filmmakers, artists, civil and political activists, and the young and old,' stands against the Islamic Republic, and the 'revolutionary movement of the Iranian people is alive and dynamic,' with the 'targets of transformative protests' continuing. These organizations called on all workers, teachers, students, women, and the general public in Iran to join local councils and workplace organizations to shape the future 'based on will, unity, and solidarity' and to continue their struggle for a transition away from the Islamic Republic. Khamenei emphasized the importance of the 'Persian language, the national flag, and a sense of pride and honor in being Iranian,' stating that 'true education should be given to students about cultural, scientific, and historical achievements.' This emphasis by the Supreme Leader comes at a time when Nowruz, the main holiday for Iranians, is not publicly celebrated, and even in his annual Nowruz messages, the Haft-Seen table is not seen. Additionally, the Islamic Republic prevents the annual commemoration of Cyrus the Great at his tomb. Teacher's Day in Iran highlights the concerns of teachers struggling with inflation and discrimination. Pressure is increasing on the families of protesters; the wife and friends of Mohammad Habibi have also been arrested. A legal case has been opened against the Secretary-General of the Iranian Teachers' Organization. The poverty line has reached 21 million tomans, while parliament representatives have increased their own salaries. A statement from 15 union organizations declares that the 'revolutionary movement of the Iranian people' remains 'alive and dynamic.' Ongoing chemical attacks on schools have drawn criticism from the Iran Human Rights Campaign regarding the Islamic Republic's behavior.