🔶New academic year; from administrative misconduct boards to the dismissal of teachers 🔻Report from Atefeh Chaharmahalians

This year, the start of the academic year in Iran is taking place amid interconnected education-system crises and mounting pressure on teachers and families—ranging from a shortage of teachers, overcrowded classrooms, and worn-out schools, to an increase in the number of children out of school and the intensification of economic and security pressures.

On the eve of the 1405–1406 academic year, the Coordinating Council of Cultural Teachers’ Associations has spoken about a shortage of at least 100,000 teachers and warned about the consequences for the quality of education.

For some teachers, going back to school is not possible because, instead of being in classrooms, they are in prison; some are serving a sentence, some are awaiting legal proceedings, and others have open and suspended cases and are effectively on hold from work.

The report of the Coordinating Council of Cultural Teachers’ Associations in Iran on the 1404–1405 academic year shows that pressure on teachers has gone beyond detention and now includes summonses, the formation of new cases, trials and the issuance of judicial rulings—alongside dismissal, suspension from service, forced retirement, and salary deductions.