A Tehran-based newspaper reported on the selection criteria for hiring student teachers and applicants for the Ministry of Education, which has faced protests from these groups. According to the report by Shargh newspaper on Sunday, November 6, the hiring selection process of the Ministry of Education is unprofessional and ideological, involving inquiries about individuals' lifestyle details. Protesters have claimed that they have been denied educational or job opportunities for non-professional reasons such as reading philosophical books, clothing style, having a mustache, wearing nail polish, missing prayers, not having interactions with classmates of the opposite sex, not wearing a hijab on the day of the written exam, visible hair roots in female candidates, liking Instagram pages, minimal participation in Friday prayers or rallies, and attire at family gatherings. The report states that the selection process in education is 'unscientific, extreme, and influenced by the personal preferences of the selector,' neglecting the 'academic level and qualifications of the candidates.' Mohammad Heydari Varjani, a former secretary of the Islamic Association of Tarbiat Modares University, told Shargh that the current selection process in education is 'just like the selections of the 1980s' and that 'the intensity of selection has increased in the past three years,' a trend to which the Minister of Education has shown 'no reaction.' The ideological strictness in the selection process occurs while Iranian schools are facing a shortage of over 176,000 teachers this year, and the failure to qualify candidates in the hiring process due to political reasons has exacerbated this issue. Additionally, the spokesperson for the Coordination Council of Teachers' Unions stated that between 2021 and the end of 2022, at least 80 teachers, including those who were dismissed or bought out, those who received suspension orders, and those who were forced into retirement, have been deprived of the ranking law. Mohammad Hossein Sepehri, a physics teacher and political prisoner, is another educator who has been dismissed after over 26 years of teaching and employment in education. The Administrative Justice Court has confirmed the dismissal of Mohammad Hossein Sepehri from the Ministry of Education.
Ministry of Education: 'Reading philosophical books and having mustaches' is prohibited
The Ministry of Education in Iran is facing criticism for its ideological and unprofessional hiring practices, which include invasive inquiries into candidates' personal lives. This has led to protests from student teachers and applicants, especially as the country faces a significant shortage of teachers. The situation highlights the intersection of education, politics, and personal freedoms in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Iranian Ministry of Education's hiring process is criticized for being ideological and unprofessional, leading to protests from student teachers and applicants. The process includes personal lifestyle inquiries and has exacerbated a teacher shortage.
- Candidates are questioned on personal lifestyle choices such as reading philosophical books and having mustaches.
- There is a shortage of over 176,000 teachers in Iran, worsened by the ideological hiring practices.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has a history of intertwining politics with education, often prioritizing ideological conformity over academic qualifications.
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%