Iranian schools have been marked by tension in the past two years, characterized by student protests, the presence of law enforcement agencies on school grounds, serial poisoning incidents with unidentified origins, and reports of seminary scholars teaching at schools has raised concerns.
These factors have created a unique atmosphere in the educational environment, with the primary victims being the students, experiencing a decline in their academic performance.
The issue of low academic quality among students is not novel, but statistics from the academic year 2023 reveal an exacerbation of this decline.
In the fields of experimental sciences, mathematical sciences, and humanities, the average GPAs of students between 2019 and 2023 have witnessed significant drops. This educational downturn is particularly pronounced in provinces grappling with high levels of deprivation.
According to sociologist Reza Omidi, quoted by Khabar Online, “The map of the GPA status of the provinces largely aligns with the country’s poverty map.”
Various factors, including personal, family, social, and economic challenges, contribute to this decline in education. However, some experts attribute this situation to the negligence within the education system.
The root cause appears to be the inefficacy of Iran’s educational structure, which fails to add substantial value to students.
High GPAs are often the result of individual effort driven by the goal of gaining admission to reputable domestic or international universities.
Economic and social pressures compound these challenges, as the education provided does not align with the job market in Iran.
Furthermore, the scarcity of qualified and experienced teachers has adversely affected the quality of education.
In September 2023, the Deputy Director of Planning and Resource Development at the Ministry of Education noted a shortage of 200,000 teachers.
To address this deficiency, the Ministry has turned to seminary scholars instead of qualified experts, a move met with criticism and concerns.
The infiltration of seminary scholars into various sectors, including education, has sparked controversy. Critics argue that this strategy aims to diminish the presence of specialized teaching staff in schools.
Bahram Dalir, a member of the Qom seminary, expressed concerns that such recruitments may make teachers resentful towards religious authorities.
Rahim Ebadi, the former Deputy Minister of Education, likened the situation to the Middle Ages, where clerics in Europe were employed as religious missionaries in schools, resulting in the decline of religion.
The nationwide protests of 2022 seem to have intensified the regime’s efforts to suppress students and youth, implementing a ‘purification’ policy that has extended from universities to schools.
The regime’s focus on eliminating specialists deemed ‘non-committed to the principles of the Islamic Republic’ mirrors actions taken in universities.
This purge has created a shortage of specialized teachers, leading the regime to resort to the recruitment of seminary scholars or establishing schools in mosques.
For many, the regime’s priority seems to be ideological adherence rather than the improvement of the quality and quantity of schools.
Consequently, individuals with greater financial resources are opting to enroll their children in neighboring countries, such as Turkey.
