One Hundred Thousand Dangerous Classrooms; The Future of Three and a Half Million Students Under Unsafe Roofs

The Deputy Minister of Education has reported that over one-fifth of the country's students, equivalent to three million and five hundred thousand, are studying in dangerous schools. Hamidreza Khan Mohammadi stated on Wednesday, December 13, that the total student population in the country is 16 million and claimed that to solve the problem of dangerous schools, three and a half million square meters of educational space have been added per capita. Meanwhile, according to the head of the National Charity School Builders Society, the government has been unsuccessful in completing school construction projects through benefactors. Nasser Ghafli mentioned in October of this year that there are one hundred thousand dangerous classrooms housing three and a half million students, and that benefactors have funded 3,500 charity schools, but the government has failed to complete the projects. The government's inability to ensure the safety of classrooms for over one-fifth of students comes at a time when the Iranian regime has consistently prioritized promoting religion and hijab in schools. Hamidreza Khan Mohammadi stated that the country's elementary schools have been transformed into 'Adabestan' by employing 'value-oriented forces.' The Ministry of Education also announced on Tuesday, December 11, during a brainstorming session of the fashion and clothing working group, that it intends to take special measures to promote 'hijab' among students. Simultaneously, Hamid Nikzad, the secretary of the collaboration committee between the seminary and education, announced the establishment of schools affiliated with the seminary, stating that seminary students with 'necessary capabilities' have been recruited. However, according to government media, dropout rates in primary and middle school have increased. According to IRNA news agency on September 30 of this year, the dropout rate in primary school has increased by about 20% and in middle school by about 50%. On the other hand, due to the implementation of ideological and governmental policies in the education system, some educational staff have been forced to resign, and many have been dismissed against their will. The 'One Hundred Thousand Signatures' campaign stated at the beginning of October that some 'responsible and caring' teachers have been imprisoned, dismissed, forced into retirement, exiled, suspended, and subjected to other entirely unjust punishments for their advocacy or criticism. Additionally, teacher activists have criticized the administrative, security, and judicial actions against educators in Iran. The start of the school year in underprivileged areas has seen classrooms lacking desks and benches hosting students.