Mosque-Centered Schools Officially Enter the Educational System

With the announcement of the conditions for establishing 'mosque-centered' schools by the head of the Organization of Non-Governmental Schools and Centers, these schools have officially entered the country's educational system. According to Ahmad Mahmoudzadeh, individuals who are 30 years old and hold a bachelor's degree can establish these schools next to mosques, provided they are married. Mosques can also apply to convert administrative and commercial spaces belonging to the mosque into schools 'while adhering to standards.' Mahmoudzadeh emphasized that this initiative aims to utilize the 'capacity of mosques' in the education and training process of the country. Yesterday, Ali-Asghar Fani, the former Minister of Education, wrote about mosque-centered schools, stating that due to the 'influence of the mosque's imam' in some schools, the Ministry of Education will not be able to supervise these schools effectively. Critics believe that initiatives like 'mosque-centered schools' are part of reviving the 'functions of mosques,' with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) working on the 'Islamic Neighborhood' project, the Islamic Propagation Organization on the 'Imam of the Neighborhood' project, and the seminary on the 'Standard Mosque' project. In June of this year, the Deputy for Propagation and Cultural Affairs of the seminaries stated that mosques would be used for 'cultural and propagandistic activities in the neighborhood.' Mahmoud Tavakoli, the deputy of 'Tehran's Mohammad Rasulullah Corps,' stated on May 11 that the initial core of building a 'new Islamic civilization' is the construction of 'Islamic neighborhoods.' The return to neighborhoods and positioning mosques at the center of all affairs has also been emphasized by Ali Khamenei. The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic advised members of the Basij on December 6, 2019, to maintain a permanent presence in 'all neighborhoods of the country,' similar to the Revolutionary Committees in the 1980s. Analysts believe that mosque-centered education is aimed at training 'efficient human resources' to implement the Islamic Republic's programs at the neighborhood level. In this context, experts consider these schools as the first link in forming the axis of confrontation and repression in neighborhoods, resulting in the expansion of the activities of Basij and IRGC bases and mosques to control the grounds for public protests. The government's targeted efforts to change the urban fabric of Iran; from 'neighborhood-focused' security patrols to the plan for creating Islamic neighborhoods! The Deputy Minister of Education: Women cannot be managers of male teachers. The educational crisis in Iran and the 'red status' of GPAs; the Minister of Education: Prayer is the most important pillar. The advisor to the Minister of Education: Seminary students are completely 'spontaneous' and 'jihadist' in schools.