On the Eve of the New School Year, Education Ministry Seeks to 'Provide Teachers'

As the new school year begins in Iran, Ahmad Mahmoudzadeh, Deputy Minister of Education of the Islamic Republic, states that the main issue and priority of this ministry is 'providing teachers.' Previously, Alireza Monadi Sefidan, head of the Education Commission and Research of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, reported a shortage of 70,000 to 80,000 teachers for the new school year, noting that the retirement of many teachers would create 'large gaps' in the country's education system. While this parliamentary representative has mentioned a teacher shortage in the range of 70,000 to 80,000, Iranian media, including the security news agency Tasnim, have reported this shortage to be as high as 176,000 teachers. On the other hand, the Coordinating Council of Teachers' Trade Unions of Iran has recently criticized the expanding influence of the Basij in the education system and the ongoing repression of educators. The teacher shortage and promises from Islamic Republic officials to 'provide teachers' for teacherless classes have reached a historic high, and it seems that even if human resources are recruited, the number of applicants will not meet the required demand. This unwillingness to work in the education system, aside from economic issues and delays in salary payments, stems from the repression of teachers' demands, who have repeatedly protested for their professional and livelihood rights in recent years and criticized the prevailing education policies in the country. Government pressure on teachers' union activists has intensified in recent years, especially after the nationwide protests of 2022, with several activists being arrested or facing penalties such as forced retirement, dismissal, suspension, and asset confiscation. Mohammad Habibi, a member of the Tehran Teachers' Trade Union, wrote on the social media platform 'X' that 'more than 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.' A report from Ham-Mihan discusses the 'illiteracy disaster' in Iran, noting that many high school students do not know their multiplication tables. The reduction in the education budget coincides with over 900,000 children being deprived of education. The new school year is approaching with a shortage of 80,000 teachers, following the retirement of 72,000 teachers and a total shortage of 176,000 educators for the new academic year.