Iran’s Education Transformation: Teacher Ranking Achieves Key Milestone and Broader Reforms Take Hold
A comprehensive drive to overhaul Iran’s education system, centered on the core principle of “educational justice,” is achieving significant milestones under the 14th government. This multi-faceted transformation extends far beyond infrastructure, aiming to create a standardized, modern, and equitable learning environment for millions of students and teachers nationwide.
A Holistic Approach to Educational Justice
The initiative, which President Ebrahim Raisi has described as a starting point for broader national economic, social, and cultural transformation, encompasses a wide range of programs. Key efforts include the rapid reduction of substandard container and stone-based classrooms, the completion of long-stalled construction projects, and the renovation of dilapidated schools, particularly in border provinces and remote villages.
Further objectives include standardizing and smartening schools, enhancing the quality of learning, increasing the education budget’s share, recruiting human resources, and systematically organizing the long-anticipated teacher ranking system. This national endeavor is being advanced with the support of public institutions and charitable benefactors.
Officials emphasize that true educational justice means more than just building schools; it requires equitable access to specialized teachers, standard educational content, and adequate facilities for all students, ensuring a high-quality learning experience for everyone, regardless of their background or location.
Teacher Ranking and Employment: A Cornerstone of Reform
A major pillar of this reform is the teacher ranking scheme, which has been pursued with renewed vigor. According to Ali Baqerzadeh, Head of the Center for Planning Human Resources and Administrative Affairs, the process has reached a critical phase.
“From last September until now, the ranking requests of approximately 300,000 teachers have been reviewed, processed, and finalized,” Baqerzadeh stated. He further announced that any new hire within the education system will now immediately benefit from the ‘Teacher Assistant’ rank advantages upon starting work, which translates to a significant increase in benefits.
Substantial progress has also been made in hiring. Last year, nearly 107,000 individuals were employed, with permits issued this year to hire an additional 85,000. This includes both service-committed students at Farhangian University and Shahid Rajaei University, as well as top-tier talents being recruited for the first time. Special permits have also been allocated to hire approximately 3,000 engineering students to address shortages in technical and vocational schools.
Significant Financial Investment and Support Staff Benefits
The government’s supportive stance towards education is clearly reflected in the national budget. According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, while the overall national budget for 2024 saw a 38% increase from 2023, the allocation for education surged by 67%—nearly 30% higher than the national average. This has raised the education sector’s share of the total national budget to approximately 12%, a notable rise from the previous ~10%.
This investment also extends to support staff. A 30% salary increase for service personnel has been implemented, with the average pay for long-serving staff now reportedly exceeding that of some teachers. Furthermore, the hourly wage for contract teachers has been raised by approximately 130%, ensuring better compensation for their vital role.
Infrastructure and National Mobilization for Education
Parallel to these efforts, a major national drive for educational justice is targeting infrastructure deficits. Plans are underway to eliminate 1,000 independent container schools and replace unsafe stone-based schools identified in rural and deprived areas. The “Shahid Ajamian” plan will see the renovation of 110,000 classrooms in underprivileged regions, with the participation of thousands of volunteer groups comprising students, teachers, and parents, aiming to equip these schools before the start of the new academic year.
This national movement, initiated with the personal idea of the President, targets over 7,200 projects encompassing 45,000 classrooms. It is expected that more than 2,200 educational projects will be delivered in the first phase this autumn.
Inclusivity and Academic Support
The commitment to inclusivity is a central theme. Officials report that approximately 98% of elementary school-age children are now enrolled, with continuous efforts to ensure no child is deprived of this right. To combat weak learning outcomes, the government has implemented the “HAMI” (Supporter) plan, which provides compensatory education. This initiative has already yielded impressive results, contributing to a 49% reduction in academic failure among identified students in just one evaluation period.
In summary, the actions taken by the 14th government over the past year demonstrate a focused commitment to sustainable educational development and the creation of equal learning opportunities for all Iranian students, irrespective of their geographical or economic status. Officials affirm that this path will continue with even greater speed in the coming years, ensuring the school serves as the central hub for social justice and the cultivation of the nation’s human capital.