Iran’s education system, overseen by the Ministry of Education under the clerical regime, faces an acute teacher shortage while also imposing strict, ideologically driven requirements on teacher candidates.
Reports highlight the Iranian regime’s medieval-style selection criteria, which exclude candidates based on lifestyle choices, social media activity, and ideological compliance rather than educational qualifications.
As a result, many qualified individuals are barred from teaching roles, exacerbating the staffing crisis in public schools, where over 85% of Iran’s students are educated. This report provides an overview of these restrictive practices and their impact on Iran’s educational landscape.
Ideological Screening of Candidates
On October 27, 2024, student teachers and prospective employees protested the Education Ministry’s recruitment process, alleging discrimination and invasive questioning. Candidates reported that screening went beyond professional assessments, instead delving into personal and ideological aspects of their lives.
Many were disqualified for actions considered inappropriate under the regime’s standards, such as reading philosophy books, wearing nail polish, sporting mustaches, or failing to attend regime-sanctioned gatherings like Friday prayers.
Other criteria for disqualification included personal social media activity, with candidates disqualified for “liking” certain posts.
For women, failing to wear the traditional chador during exams or allowing hair to show under a scarf was enough to exclude them from consideration. Male candidates were reportedly judged for physical appearance, such as having tattoos or unconventional hairstyles, grouped under the infamous “Code 19,” a category within the Ministry’s guidelines targeting behaviors and appearances that deviate from regime expectations.
Historic Hardline Practices
This extreme vetting harks back to practices from the 1980s, as noted by Mohammad Heydari Varjani, a former official in the Islamic Student Association at Tehran’s Farhangian University, which trains future teachers. He emphasized that the level of ideological scrutiny in education recruitment has intensified in recent years. Yet, despite these practices, the current Minister of Education has remained silent on the controversy.
The enforcement of such policies has coincided with a national teacher shortage that has left Iranian schools with a deficit of over 176,000 educators. The regime’s exclusionary criteria, combined with widespread ideological disqualifications, aggravate this shortage, as politically targeted disqualifications remove a substantial number of potential teachers.
Broader Impacts on Iran’s Education System
The nationwide shortage of qualified teachers is further compounded by economic challenges and the regime’s antagonistic approach toward education professionals.
According to the spokesperson for Iran’s Coordinating Council of Teacher Associations, between 2022 and 2023, at least 80 teachers were forced out of the education system, either through dismissals or coerced retirements. Teacher unions argue that this exodus of experienced educators is detrimental to the quality of education.
Teacher salaries in Iran remain insufficient, averaging around 16 million tomans per month (approximately $320), a meager income compared to inflation and living costs in the country. In response to rising discontent, the administration of former regime President Ebrahim Raisi had promised wage increases through a “ranking law” intended to raise teacher salaries based on experience. However, union leaders, including the Coordinating Council of Teacher Associations, have expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation, noting that the policy has failed to deliver the promised economic relief.
Increased Repression of Teacher Activism
Amid growing discontent, the Iranian regime has increased pressure on activist teachers, many of whom have been threatened, summoned, or even imprisoned for speaking out.
These tactics reflect the regime’s broader response to social unrest and economic protests across various sectors, including healthcare, industry, and education. In early October 2024, the Council of Teacher Associations warned against escalating crackdowns on teacher protests, especially those led by retirees facing delays in pension payouts.
In response to mounting discontent, the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reportedly directed economic ministries to prepare for a “war economy.” This approach includes expanding control over citizens’ lives, enforcing strict dress codes in government offices, and reinforcing compliance with religious norms.
For example, the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Headquarters recently issued dress code instructions for public institutions, with specific mandates on men’s hairstyles and women’s attire, including requirements for neck coverings and prohibitions on high boots or visible nail polish. This crackdown seeks to reinforce strict social standards across all state-controlled institutions, including education.
The Iranian regime’s restrictive policies within its education system underline a fundamental challenge: a government grappling with a massive teacher shortage yet unwilling to prioritize educational qualifications over ideological conformity in hiring practices.
The Ministry of Education’s disqualifications based on personal appearance, lifestyle, and ideology illustrate the degree to which the regime imposes control over its citizens. While these measures aim to align teachers with regime values, they have eroded public trust in the education system and contributed to a deteriorating learning environment.
