Training Eight Thousand Primary School Teachers for 'Quality Prayer in Schools'

Two officials from the Ministry of Education and the Organization of Non-Governmental Schools have reported on the training of eight thousand primary school teachers for conducting 'quality' prayers in schools and have issued a directive to private schools to allocate 15% of tuition fees received from parents for cultural activities, including prayer. These discussions took place during a seasonal meeting of the Prayer Headquarters of the Ministry of Education, attended by figures such as Mohsen Qaraati, head of the Prayer Headquarters, and Mohammad Hassan Rezaei, advisor to the President on prayer issues. According to Iranian news agencies, the meeting emphasized the establishment of what is called a 'monitoring and evaluation system for prayer in schools since the beginning of the year 1397 (2018 in the Gregorian calendar)'. Alireza Kazemi, the cultural and educational deputy of the Ministry of Education, announced the training of eight thousand primary school teachers for conducting 'quality prayers' in schools. He stated that the 'special obligation ceremony for boys in the presence' of the Supreme Leader and monitoring the statements of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 'regarding prayer from the 26 prayer conferences' are among the actions taken by the cultural and educational deputy in promoting the culture of prayer. Mojtaba Zeynivand, head of the Organization of Schools and Non-Governmental Centers, also announced the issuance of a directive for 'community oversight of cultural activities in non-governmental schools'. According to him, 'since the beginning of Bahman 96 (January 2018), this directive has been implemented, and based on it, schools are obliged to spend 15% of the tuition fees received from parents on cultural activities, including conducting prayers, and part of the schools' rating is also allocated to the performance of this religious duty.' Ali Baqerzadeh, head of the Literacy Movement Organization, also called for the establishment of a prayer culture in families, stating that 'it is impossible for a student to come from a praying family but not pray at school.' He added that prayer in schools 'must be integrated into the curriculum, not just alongside it, because the goal of education is to cultivate a righteous servant, and its fundamental pillar is servitude, with prayer being the highest form of servitude.' The Minister of Education in Hassan Rouhani's government also stated on Saturday, March 17, in a gathering of members of the Prayer Headquarters that 'in today's chaotic world, prayer is the savior of students from social harms.' Mohammad Bat'haei added: 'The only thing that can save society, especially adolescents and youth, from anxiety and social harms is prayer; therefore, conducting prayers in schools is increasingly necessary.' He announced the establishment of a 'monitoring and evaluation system for prayer in schools' within the next 20 days, adding that 'through this system, the implementation process of prayers in schools will be continuously monitored, and the progress or lack thereof in performing this divine duty will be recorded, and the relevant managers will take action to remove obstacles.' Prior to him, the director of 'Quran, Ahlul Bayt, and Prayer' at the Ministry of Education had stated that from the new school year, 'half an hour will be allocated to holding congregational prayers in schools.' Mohammad Reza Masi'bzadeh added that this half hour has been 'integrated into the students' curriculum.' Meanwhile, the inclusion of prayer in the students' curriculum and the repeated emphasis by education officials on the necessity of conducting prayers in schools have drawn criticisms on social media towards Hassan Rouhani's government.