Title: Landmark Pension Reform and Salary Increase for Retired Iranian Educators Announced
In a significant move to support the nation’s educators, the Iranian government has officially approved a substantial pension increase for retired teachers, set to take effect from the third month of the upcoming Persian calendar year.
Major Salary Adjustment
The State Pensions Fund has announced that retired educators will receive a 40% pension increase. This adjustment is part of a broader “harmonization” policy designed to align the pensions of retired teachers more closely with the salaries of their active counterparts. Following this increase, the average pension for retired educators is projected to surpass the minimum salary level of active employees.
Settling Outstanding Dues
A key component of this initiative is the simultaneous settlement of previously unpaid dues accumulated over the first eight months of the current year. This significant financial commitment, which has been allocated within this year’s national budget, will be disbursed as a separate lump-sum payment. Officials state this measure is a crucial step in reducing the income gap between active and retired educational staff.
Commitment to Reducing Inequality
Morteza Qodratipour, Director General of the Tehran Province State Pensions Fund, reported that over 90% of the new pension decrees for retired teachers have already been issued. He emphasized that this action is part of a continuous effort to lessen the disparity between active and retirement incomes and to ensure the welfare of retirees. Mr. Qodratipour also highlighted the Fund’s extensive work, noting that more than 20,000 legal, financial, and welfare cases have been reviewed so far this year.
New Ranking System for Active Teachers
Parallel to the pension increase, a new ranking system for active teachers has been finalized. Developed in collaboration with the Administrative and Employment Affairs Organization and the Planning and Budget Organization, this system shifts the focus from purely academic credentials to a more comprehensive evaluation of a teacher’s educational performance, research, and student development activities.
Under the new framework:
- Newly hired teachers with a bachelor’s degree will immediately receive the “Educational Assistant” rank.
- Teachers can apply for a rank promotion after four years of service in rural areas or five years in urban areas.
- A specialized committee with an education-centric approach will oversee the fair and merit-based evaluation process.
Ali Farhadi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, confirmed that the new salary scales based on this ranking system will be implemented for both active and newly hired teachers starting in the new academic year.
This comprehensive financial and structural reform, enacted on the eve of the new school year, is widely seen as a pivotal measure to enhance the livelihoods of educators, restore the esteemed status of the teaching profession, and ultimately foster a higher quality of education across the country.