A few days before the reopening of schools in Iran, the head of the Tehran Fire Department announced that only three schools in Tehran have fire safety approval. Ghodratollah Mohammadi explained on a television program on Sunday, September 16, that according to the law, all centers must have fire safety approval, but 'out of 4,538 schools in Tehran, only three have fire safety approval.' He further added that there are 4,538 public and private schools in Tehran, of which 1,534 are kindergartens, which increases the sensitivity of the matter. Mohammadi stated that his organization prioritizes the safety of medical centers and then commercial centers, 'and after that, schools.' He did not explain why schools and kindergartens are placed last in the fire department's priorities. Regarding all three categories, he mentioned that his organization has been waiting to 'receive letters' from them and added, 'We complain to the people and officials because no organization has sent us a letter indicating that we are seeking safety, while we should be forcing them to ensure safety.' In a warning ahead of the school reopening, Mohammadi stated that 'half of the schools in Tehran' are unsafe. He mentioned that his organization has only formed '43 cases' and visited a number of schools, issuing guidelines and sending notices. This news comes less than a week before schools are set to reopen in Iran and the populous province of Tehran. Mohammadi had previously stated on September 13 that one in two schools in the capital is unsafe. The statistics provided by the fire department director pertain only to schools in Tehran. Prior reports have indicated the existence of unsafe schools in other provinces as well. On September 9, the governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad announced that the most unsafe schools in the country are located in this province. Ali Ahmadzadeh mentioned in a meeting of the provincial education council that the presence of 483 stone classrooms in this province has contributed to this situation. A day earlier, the Tehran Water and Wastewater Company confirmed that it had cut off water to dozens of schools in Tehran due to what it described as debts and lack of 'sewer connection rights,' deeming this action 'legal.' In addition to the unsafe schools, hospitals in Tehran also do not have a suitable safety status, and a significant portion of them have not yet received safety approval from the fire department.
Only Three Schools in Tehran Have Fire Safety Approval
As schools in Tehran prepare to reopen, only three out of 4,538 schools have fire safety approval, raising serious safety concerns. Ghodratollah Mohammadi, head of the Tehran Fire Department, highlighted the lack of urgency in prioritizing school safety compared to medical and commercial centers. This situation poses significant risks to students and reflects broader issues of safety and governance in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Only three out of 4,538 schools in Tehran have fire safety approval, raising serious safety concerns just before the school year begins. The head of the fire department emphasized the urgent need for safety measures in schools, which are currently deprioritized compared to other facilities.
- Only 3 schools in Tehran have fire safety approval out of 4,538.
- Half of the schools in Tehran are considered unsafe according to the fire department.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has faced ongoing challenges in maintaining infrastructure and public safety, with reports of unsafe schools and hospitals becoming increasingly common. This reflects broader issues of governance and resource allocation in the country.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%