In political culture, reactionism and regression refer to an approach or system that opposes progress and the necessary evolutionary changes in social, economic, and political foundations. A reactionary is one who waits for the opportunity to return to the past periods of history and its obsolete traditions.
One of the indicators of a reactionary and anti-science regime is its educational system and the teaching methods under its control. The more unfortunate aspect of these reactionary regimes is comparing them to certain elements of past societies, which, despite their shortcomings, were sometimes more beneficial than the current regimes in modern times. For example, traditional schools, despite their low quality and poor performance, are now considered superior compared to the education system under the religious fascism ruling Iran. We’ve often heard that in these old schools, children were punished with sticks and parents did not object. However, in the 21st century, the level of violence and corporal punishment in schools under the clerical regime has escalated to the point of causing permanent physical injury to students, leading to confrontations between parents and regime officials in schools. Ultimately, this has led to students becoming disillusioned with school, making it one of the main problems in the education system.
But the problem does not end here. The crisis in the educational system under the clerical regime is so severe that it makes one long for the older institutions—not in comparison to advanced and modern systems of the age of communication and scientific and technological development, but even to those in neighboring countries.
On the other hand, “If we consider that what was taught in traditional schools yesterday is now being taught in literature faculties, we will better appreciate the academic value of these old schools,” IRNA news agency wrote on October 24, 2020. “After all, books such as Kalila wa Dimna, Bustan, and Gulistan, which were read by children in traditional schools, are now part of the curriculum for undergraduate Persian literature students in universities. And yet, many of today’s doctors, engineers, high-ranking officials, lawyers, and managers, due to their lack of reading habits, struggle even to read such texts correctly, let alone grasp their meanings.”
Imposing fanatic beliefs on the next generation of society
Since its inception, the mullahs’ regime has inflicted significant damage and problems on Iran’s educational system. These issues not only persist but have grown in scale and severity to monstrous proportions. The imposition of the reactionary ideas and approaches of regime founder Rullah Khomeini, his successor, and other backward and oppressive supporters has turned the educational system into a ruin, where its output bears the mark of reactionary rulers.
Textbooks, programs, and educational activities serve the empty, fabricated goals of the clerical regime. The result has been successive failures in the conventional education system of today’s human society, leaving Iran’s future generation without prospects and in despair. On the other hand, “The Minister of Education says, ‘We have trained 20,000 muezzins (callers to prayer),’” according to the state-run Khabar Online news website on January 6.
The crisis of academic decline in Iran and the “red alert” for grade averages
Following reports of a decline in academic performance and the “red alert” over student grade averages, “Education expert Mazaher Goudarzi reported that ‘students’ motivation to study has decreased’ and ‘education for success in the future’ is now limited to ‘a specific class.’ The average GPA of students in experimental sciences, mathematics, humanities, and religious studies is between 8 and 11 and has been on a downward trend compared to previous years” (Source: Teachers’ Union, January 6).
“The head of the Educational Assessment and Evaluation Center of Iran’s Ministry of Education says the average GPA for the three fields of Experimental Sciences, Mathematics, and Humanities in the 12th grade, the final year of high school, is 10.89 (out of 20)” (Source: the state-run Etemad newspaper, August 22).
Sociologist Reza Omidi says, “The map of provincial GPA levels largely aligns with the poverty map of the country.” Additionally, educational expert Mohammadreza Niknejad stresses that “economic issues have seriously harmed education,” and adds, “When a child’s stomach is empty, education and studying are no longer a priority.”
On January 7, Khabar Online quoted former education minister Reza Morad Sahraei as saying, “Prayer is the most important pillar in education.”
He also reported, “We will never neglect the promotion of prayer” and “We have trained 20,000 muezzins nationwide who perform live calls to prayer.” Additionally, 19,000 religious education mentors have been recruited, and “over 1.6 million square meters of prayer rugs” have been provided for schools. He described the “Jashn-e Taklif” (coming-of-age ceremony) as “the best educational program” of the Ministry of Education.
What is the share of students passing the university entrance exam in deprived provinces?
Another indicator of the educational crisis is the alarming state of inequality and class oppression. According to the World Bank, Iran had the highest rate of privatization in secondary education globally from 1998 to 2018, leading to a class-based university system.
On August 31, Farhikhtegan newspaper quoted Mansour Kebganian, member of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, as saying: “Among the top 3,000 ranks in the national university entrance exam for popular fields, the bottom three economic deciles—the poorest groups—hold only 2%. On the other hand, the wealthiest deciles, the 9th and 10th, account for 80%. The first decile has a mere 0.2% share, while the 10th decile holds 48.1%. In lucrative fields like medicine and dentistry, the poorer deciles hold 1.3%, while the top three deciles dominate with 86%. In the electrical engineering program at Sharif University, the poorer deciles hold 0%, and the top three deciles claim 87%.”
Another report shows that Tehran province, with over 27%, has the largest share of top university entrance exam rankings. Public schools account for only “seven percent” of top-ranked students, with only “two out of the top 30 students” coming from public schools, which makes up about “seven percent” of these candidates.
The latter report added, “Even when including semi-public schools, the share of public schools among this year’s top university entrance exam students only reaches ‘ten percent.’ Students attending schools for the gifted, known as SAMPAD, account for ’73 percent’ of top scorers in the three test groups. In the top Experimental Sciences group, ‘not a single student’ is from non-SAMPAD schools.”
Furthermore, top university entrance exam candidates come from only 15 provinces, while 16 other provinces, including Sistan and Baluchestan, Kurdistan, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Lorestan, Ardabil, and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, have no representation.
Children deprived of education
The Statistical Center of Iran, in its “Spring 2023 Social and Cultural Report,” announced that over 556,000 children aged “15 to 17” were out of high school during the 2022-2023 academic year. This figure does not include high school dropouts. Economic deprivation and poverty are the main reasons for this situation.
The Deputy Minister of Elementary Education also reported that in the new academic year, 160,000 children have not enrolled in elementary school and are out of education.
The dramatic decline in university enrollment from 2% of the population to 0.4% poses a serious threat to the country’s sustainable and comprehensive development. However, the education crisis in Iran is not limited to the relative reduction in student populations; the decline in educational quality, the commercialization of education, and the exacerbation of educational inequality are also significant factors…
These are just a small part of the catastrophic damages caused by religious fascism in Iran, and the only way to expand knowledge, culture, and art in the land of Iran is to overthrow the ruling regime.