Teachers, rather than being frightened, have become more adamant in their protests. “Teachers don’t belong in prison,” “Imprisoned teachers must be released,”.
On Thursday, teachers across Iran protested the government’s and parliament’s reluctance to address their needs. Active and retired teachers are among those attending the rallies, who have been heavily struck by the economic crisis and the regime’s inaction in drafting laws and providing resources to ameliorate their circumstances. Tehran, Mashhad, Tabriz, Isfahan, Rasht, Sanandaj, Ahvaz, Arak, Karaj, and Kermanshah were among the cities where protests were reported.
Teachers who have been imprisoned must be released
Teachers want job stability, pay that is compensated for inflation and currency depreciation, school reform, and the repeal of discriminatory laws. Teachers’ rights advocates who have been detained and imprisoned by the regime’s security forces are also being demanded by the protesting teachers.
“Teachers who have been imprisoned must be released,” “Political prisoners must be released,” “Teachers will die but will not succumb to humiliation,” and “Political prisoners must be released.” “Students deserve free education,” “Teachers, rise and fight discrimination,” “We’ve heard too many promises but no justice,” and “Shame on the state-run broadcasting organization,” are among the slogans.
“Teachers who have been imprisoned must be released,” “Political prisoners must be released,” “Teachers will die but will not succumb to humiliation,
Teachers won’t back down with deceptive plans
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), praised Iranian teachers for demonstrating that they “will not back down despite the clerical regime’s deceptive plans, threats, and suppressive measures.” “Until their demands are met, the teachers’ movement will continue.”
Mrs. Rajavi also stated that the teachers’ movement reflects “the general Iranian public’s determination to overthrow the clerical regime, which is the main cause of oppression, corruption, poverty, unemployment, and poverty,” and she encouraged students and youth to join the teachers in their protests.
The Majlis (parliament) passed the “Teachers Ranking” bill last week, which is intended to address many of the issues that have plagued teachers in recent years. Teachers will be grouped into five ranks based on “general, specialized, and professional qualifications, experience, and competitive function,” according to the bill. Salaries will be set based on the teachers’ ratings.
Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), praised the teachers and their protests.
The mullahs have no credit for the year 1400
While the administration brags about the bill and its accomplishments, Iranian teachers accuse the regime of failing to meet its requirements. The Iranian Teachers Coordination Council described the bill as deceptive and inappropriate and stated that the administration has warned that this flawed plan will not be implemented during the current Persian year, which runs until March 2022.
In the coming Persian year, beginning in March 2022, a total of 250 trillion rials will be distributed to about 734,000 teachers across Iran, according to the bill. However, it ignores the tens of thousands of educators who work on an unofficial basis because the education ministry refuses to recruit them despite passing the test.
“There is no funding to implement the law in the current year, and the government has no credit for the year 1400 [March 2021-March 2022],” Hossein Arab Assadi, deputy of the Employment Affairs Organization, stated after the measure was enacted.
The Teachers Coordination Council further stated that legislation to adjust retired teachers’ pay was sent to the Majlis in the summer but has yet to be addressed in parliamentary sessions.
The regime has attempted and prepared for retaliation
Majlis Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf previously stated that the Majlis would not be able to adjust the annual budget of 250 trillion rials allotted to this plan.
The regime has attempted to scare teachers by labeling their gatherings a “security threat” and preparing for retaliation.
The state-run Keyhan daily warned on December 15 that the demonstrations are being hijacked and managed by “state enemies.”
Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Guards-affiliated Javan newspaper attempted to downplay the teachers’ demands, claiming that 72 percent of the increased education funding had been allocated to instructors. The publication commented, “Instead of allocating our credit to expand the education system and improve the quality of education, we are spending it on salaries.”
Javan, ironically, makes no mention of the IRGC’s budget, which has increased by 240 percent year over year to spend billions on overseas terrorism, ballistic missiles, internet control, and home repression.
Teachers hold protest rallies in more than 100 cities—Iran news
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