Article 30 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic states that the government is obliged to provide free education for all citizens until the end of secondary education and to expand higher education facilities to the point of self-sufficiency in the country, free of charge. This principle is not fully implemented. Every year, many students are deprived of education under the pretext of their political activities or beliefs. Recently, the Cabinet has added a bill to the student assessment and admission law. According to this bill, the right to education is part of individuals' fundamental rights, and no one can be deprived of education at various educational levels for reasons other than the specified academic incompetence. However, an exception in this bill has left many civil society activists disappointed. According to the Cabinet's amendment, individuals with a criminal record for organized crimes, human trafficking, armed rebellion, and espionage are excluded. Over the past four decades, followers of the Baha'i faith in Iran have faced severe repression, and in addition to frequent summons and arrests, they have also been barred from attending universities. Hassan Rouhani promised during the 2013 election campaign to reinstate students who had been deprived of education and to eliminate the security atmosphere in universities. Nevertheless, various student groups have repeatedly protested in recent years against the security situation in universities, deprivation of education, and the marking of students with stars. This week's program addresses the issue of the right to education and asks how much the Cabinet's bill, if approved by the parliament, will prevent the deprivation of education for some students. Along with Majid Dary, a former student activist, member of the Council for the Defense of the Right to Education, and a student deprived of education in Tehran, and Nahid Hosseini, a researcher in education and social change and a professor at Kingston University in London.
Right to Education; A Right That Is Denied to Some
The Iranian government is mandated to provide free education, yet many students are denied this right due to political beliefs or activities. A new bill aims to protect the right to education, but exceptions for certain criminal records have raised concerns among civil society activists. This issue is significant as it highlights ongoing educational discrimination in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Iranian Cabinet proposed a bill to safeguard the right to education, but it includes exceptions for individuals with certain criminal records, causing concern among civil society activists. The bill aims to prevent educational deprivation based on political beliefs or activities.
- The Iranian Constitution mandates free education until secondary level.
- The bill includes exceptions for organized crime, human trafficking, armed rebellion, and espionage.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has a history of educational discrimination against political dissidents and religious minorities, notably the Baha'i community.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%