The Ministry of Education has decided to hold full in-person classes in the new academic year. Alireza Kazemi, the Minister of Education, referred to the special conditions of previous years and the frequent closures of schools, and mentioned the need to change the decision-making mechanism regarding closures. He emphasized that decisions in this area should be entrusted to the education sector and specific criteria should be considered for this decision-making.
The Necessity of Holding In-Person Classes
The Minister of Education stated that in many countries, instead of completely closing schools during times of air pollution or infectious diseases, efforts are made to manage conditions so that education can continue as much as possible. School closures not only affect students' educational progress but also impact parents' daily lives. Therefore, it is essential for the education institution to play a central role in these decisions.
Harms of Virtual Education
Abdul Wahid Fayyazi, a member of the Education and Research Commission of the Parliament, also announced the holding of full in-person classes, referring to the situation of schools in the new academic year. He emphasized that in special conditions such as disease outbreaks or war, schools may go virtual, but the government's overall policy is to hold in-person classes. Fayyazi also pointed out the harms that virtual education can inflict on the quality of education and students' learning. Many families have to manage their children's online classes alongside work and daily life, which leads to added pressure.
In a situation where families are concerned about the constant changes in educational programs, whispers of the possibility of schools going virtual, even if not certain, can be alarming. Families are seeking stability in educational programs and do not want to return to the days when their life schedules were affected by sudden school closures.
Ultimately, what students and families urgently need is stability in the educational process so that students can regularly and systematically attend classes and benefit from their educational experiences. With the start of the new academic year, there is hope that the country's educational system can improve conditions and contribute to the quality of education and the upbringing of students.
