By Ramadhan Abbey
Tehran
Last week Iran celebrated Teachers’ Day with recognition of Iranian scholars for shaping the country’s Education standards
Teacher’s Day which marks the day in memory of Ayatollah Morteza Motahari who was assassinated on May 1, 1979.
Ordibehesht 12 in the Iranian calendar corresponding with May 1 or 2 is the martyrdom anniversary of one of the most significant ideologists of the Islamic Revolution, Morteza Motahari.
Ayatollah Morteza Motahari was one of the most prominent intellectual and cultural figures of modern time. With a very high command of Islamic teachings, he met the myriads of the needs of the present generation. Having novel ideas, creative thoughts, and a proper understanding of Islam, Ayatollah Motahari played an important role in the enlightenment of enthusiasts, especially teachers and academics.
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Motahari was one of the main axes of coordination among ulema and university professors during the exile of Imam Khomeini. He has always been regarded as a very knowledgeable expert of Islam and a powerful philosopher who was aware of the conditions of the time.
The awareness of the young generation was an important aim of Motahari and he has written so many books for them, including “Dastan-e Rastan” which received an award from UNESCO in 1965.
Teacher Day was celebrated nationwide. in schools, educational institutions, and Universities
Teaching is blessed in Iran and the young and old sustain undying respect for those who strove so hard to increase their knowledge, honoring them with token or a small gift or flowers on this day.
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As usual at Ahlul-Bayt International University the celebration took place at Hostels Conference room and was led by Prof .Ali Larizani alongside the University Rector Dr Saeed Jazari on April 29,2024
Speaking while presiding over the function, Prof .Ali Larizani said the celebration of Teachers’ Day is a special day to pay tribute to teachers and appreciate their efforts which include celebrations to honor them for their special contributions to educating the younger generation.
“Worldwide, teaching is the most influential job. Teachers are known to shape the mind of youth as without knowledge no one can exist in this world. Teachers are capable of imparting good values to children and turn them into responsible citizens” he noted
He noted that Teachers are the architect of society and without them, no society can walk in the path of progression. Teaching is an art and a teacher is an artist. Knowledge, contemplation, and creativity are the characteristics of a teacher that go along with the science of the day.
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Because of the spiritual impact of teachers, students are highly affected by them so they may even change the fate of their nation. Most people owe their success to their teachers.
Education in Iran
In the nineteenth-century, the first Iranian university, modeled after European universities, was established during the first Pahlavi period. There are both free public schools and private schools in Iran at all levels, from elementary school through university. Education in Iran is highly centralized.
Motahari has also written many books on Islam, Iran, and historical topics. He did mostly work on giving lectures about Islam rather than writing books. However, after his death, some of his students worked on writing these lectures and managing them in order to publish them as books.
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He served in Tehran University as the head of the Department of Theology and Islamic Teachings. At the time of his assassination, he was the president of the Constitutional Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran and a member of the Revolutionary Council.
Because of his activities, he was favored by revolutionary people and was hated by the anti-revolutionaries group, such as the Islamist Furqan Group. On 1 May 1979, Morteza Motahari was assassinated in Tehran by gunshot after leaving a late meeting at the house of Yadollah Sahabi. The Furqan Group claimed responsibility for the assassination.
The 12th day of Ordibehesht, the second month on the Iranian calendar, which fell on May 2 this year, was the Teachers’ Day in Iran to commemorate the martyrdom of Ayatollah Morteza Motahari, an Iranian cleric, philosopher, lecturer, and politician.
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The idea of celebrating Teachers’ Day took root in many countries during the 19th century; however, unlike many other International Days in most cases, the day is marked on various dates for different nations by celebrating a local educator or an important milestone in education. Many countries celebrate World Teachers’ Day, established by UNESCO in 1994, on 5 October as their Teachers’ Day.
Literacy level in Iran
Education in Iran is centralized and is divided into two K-12 education plus higher Education
Elementary and secondary education is supervised by the Ministry of Education and Higher education is supervised by the Ministry of science, research and Technology and Ministry of Health and Medical
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As of 2016, about 86% of the Iranian adult population were literate and this increased to 97% among the young adult ages between 15 to 24 without any gender consideration
By 2007, Iran had a student workforce population ratio of 10.2% standing among the countries with the highest ratio in world
Also recorded growth telecommunication
Iran is among the first five countries which have had a growth rate of over 20% and the highest level of development in telecommunication, it has been awarded the UNESCO special certificate for providing telecom services to rural areas
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With a population of 80 million with some 56% of Iranians under the age of 25, in 2008, there were more than 52,000 rural offices, providing Telecom services to the villages across the country. The number of fixed telephone lines is above 24 million, with penetration factor of 33.66%.
In 2012, there were 43 million internet users in Iran, making the country first in the Middle East in terms of number, as of 2020, 70 million Iranians are using high-speed mobile internet.
: Iran’s telecommunications industry is almost entirely state-owned, dominated by the Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI). Fixed-line penetration in 2004 was relatively well-developed by regional standards, standing at 22 lines per 100 people, higher than Egypt with 14 and Saudi Arabia with 15, although behind the UAE with 27
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Persian teachers praised for raising the flag of country’s national Language
During the celebration, Persian lectures were praised and recognized for raising the Iranian flag of the Country’s National Language.
“Language allows us to break down barriers and build connections with people from different parts of the world. In an increasingly interconnected global society, the ability to communicate in multiple languages opens up a world of opportunities. It enables us to engage in international trade, forge partnerships, and establish meaningful relationships across borders” according to Omondi (his real name not mention) a student Persian
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Omondi who is a Ugandan Nationality applauded Ahlul- Bayt Persian lectures for transforming them, “Imagine I come here without any word in Persian but they have transformed from zero alteast to something “
He noted that language view ourselves and others, and it forms an integral part of our cultural heritage. When a language is lost, a wealth of knowledge, traditions, and stories fade away with it. Preserving and promoting language diversity is crucial for maintaining cultural identity and ensuring the survival of unique cultural practices.
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“Language is a powerful tool for self-expression. It allows individuals to articulate their identity, share their stories, and celebrate their heritage. Language is a reflection of who we are and where we come from. By embracing and valuing diverse languages, we can create a more inclusive and harmonious society “said Omondi
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