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Revisions Made to the University Entrance Exam Field Selection Guide; 'Cinema' Returns, but 'Sculpture' is Still Absent

Feb 6, 2026 February 6, 2026 2 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

The Cinema field has been reinstated in the university entrance exam selection guide, but the Sculpture field remains absent. This change follows significant public and official backlash against the initial removal of both fields. The situation highlights ongoing tensions regarding cultural policies under the Raisi administration.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The reinstatement of the Cinema field amid the absence of Sculpture underscores ongoing cultural tensions in Iran.

👥 Key Players

Saeed Seyed Ahmadi Zaveh MENTIONED
Educational Deputy of the University of Art
"He is responsible for addressing educational policies and issues at a key cultural institution in Iran."
Alireza Karimiyaan MENTIONED
Advisor to the President and Director of Public Relations at the Assessment Organization
"He plays a crucial role in the administration of national exams and educational assessments in Iran."
Ali Shamsipour MENTIONED
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Science
"He communicates official positions on educational matters, influencing public perception and policy."

📰 What Happened

The Cinema field has been reinstated in the university entrance exam selection guide after public backlash, while the Sculpture field remains absent. This follows significant reactions from officials and the public regarding the initial removal of both fields.

  • The Cinema field was removed from the selection guide but has now been added back.
  • The Sculpture field has not been reinstated, raising concerns about cultural policies.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: This situation highlights the ongoing struggle over cultural expression and educational policies in Iran, reflecting broader societal tensions.
🌍 Regional: The cultural policies in Iran can influence artistic freedoms and cultural expressions in neighboring countries.
🌐 International: The handling of cultural education may affect Iran's international image and relations, particularly with Western nations concerned about human rights.

📚 Background

Iran's educational system has faced scrutiny over its cultural policies, particularly under the current government, which some critics liken to the Taliban's approach to cultural expression.

Cultural policies in Iran Impact of government on education
📡 Source: STATE MEDIA
📊 Confidence: 70%
ILNA is a semi-official news agency, which may reflect government perspectives while also reporting on public dissent.

The ILNA news agency reported the return of the 'Cinema' field to the university entrance exam selection guide, but noted that there is still no news regarding the 'Sculpture' field. Recently, reports emerged about the removal of both the Cinema and Sculpture fields from the list of programs at the University of Art in Tehran following the publication of the selection guide for entrance exam winners. This issue received significant attention and prompted reactions from several officials. Saeed Seyed Ahmadi Zaveh, the educational deputy of the University of Art, explained that the removal of the 'Sculpture' and 'Cinema' fields from the selection guide was a mistake and that this systemic error occurred by the Assessment Organization, which will soon be rectified in the guide's amendment. Alireza Karimiyaan, advisor to the president and director of public relations at the Assessment Organization, had previously announced that the code for the 'Cinema' field would be included in the amendment of the selection guide. Ali Shamsipour, spokesperson for the Ministry of Science, also reminded that the usual process for amending the selection guides for national exams is underway, stating that 'the Assessment Organization is currently revising the guides' and that fields not listed in the University of Art in Tehran will be added 'after review.' Now, following these reactions, ILNA reported today that the Cinema field at the University of Art in Tehran has been added to the list of fields in the amended selection guides for the national exam, while there is no mention of the Sculpture field in these amendments. In response to the reactions regarding the removal of the Cinema and Sculpture fields at the University of Tehran, an official stated: 'It was a mistake, and it will be corrected.' The reactions to the removal of the Cinema and Sculpture fields at the University of Tehran indicate a continuation of the 'Taliban-like' approach of the Raisi government.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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