Title: New “Teacher’s Card” Initiative Launches with 25 Million Toman Credit Facility
In a significant move underscoring the government’s strategic focus on education, a senior official from the Ministry of Education has detailed a series of unprecedented financial and welfare measures for educators, headlined by the introduction of the new “Teacher’s Card.”
A Strategic Priority for the Nation
Deputy Minister of Education, Ali Farhadi, emphasized the serious attention the administration pays to educational matters. “Education is no longer a priority just on paper,” Farhadi stated, pointing to high-level meetings convened specifically for this sector as clear evidence of its strategic importance in the country’s agenda.
Financial Reforms and Timely Payments
Highlighting a break from past practices, Farhadi noted the government’s successful reform in paying teachers for extra teaching hours. “Previously, these payments were delayed by up to eight months. Under the current administration, all active, retired, and conscripted teachers now receive their extra teaching pay by the end of the same month,” he explained. This timely disbursement has been crucial in boosting teacher motivation and productivity.
Furthermore, the Deputy Minister addressed the resolution of long-standing payment delays for Iranian schools abroad, confirming that all accumulated debts have been cleared and no new arrears have been incurred.
Substantial Investment and Welfare Support
The government’s commitment is further demonstrated by substantial financial allocations. Farhadi revealed that the average per-student funding for schools has been nearly fully realized this academic year. In a notable comparison, he stated that over 1,800 billion tomans allocated for school budgets between July and September alone exceeds the total annual budget for the previous year.
Significant support has also been directed toward teacher welfare and medical centers, with 350 billion tomans allocated over the past year. A major structural transformation was also announced for teachers’ supplementary insurance, introducing competition by allowing eight selected insurance companies to participate, with the power of choice delegated to provincial authorities. This competitive process led to substantial savings, reducing the per-person premium cost and generating savings worth approximately 3,400 billion tomans, directly benefiting educators.
The Teacher’s Card: A New Benefit
A cornerstone of these new benefits is the “Teacher’s Card.” Farhadi announced that this initiative not only facilitates salary payments but also provides access to interest-free loan facilities of up to ten times the deposited amount. As an example, he illustrated that a deposit of 2.5 million tomans during “Teacher’s Week” enabled educators to access a 25 million toman, five-month purchase loan.
This comprehensive package of reforms and new initiatives reflects a concerted effort to empower educators and strengthen the national education system through strategic investment and improved welfare services.