languages like Kurdish is available only through private classes, reducing the accessibility and
affordability of Kurdish education. Furthermore, private teachers are required to obtain a license
from the state to teach Kurdish, which places an additional barrier to private practice.
In 2012, reportedly 70% of students who started their education in the Islamic Republic of Iran
did not have Farsi (Persian) as their mother tongue,19 yet ethnic minorities lack access to
education in their mother tongue. In 2016, reportedly up to 40,000 Ahwazi Arab children were
denied access to education for failing the Farsi language proficiency test, although Farsi being
their second language.20 In 2019, Rezvan Hakim Zadeh, deputy of the regime’s elementary
education department, announced that the health assessment plan for pre-school children will
include an evaluation of the children’s level of proficiency and comprehension in Persian.
Children who fail to pass the assessment will not be able to attend state kindergartens, therefore
limiting severely access to pre-primary education for children from ethnic minorities such as
Ahwazi Arabs, Turks, Kurds and Balochis who will be directed to an intensive training in the
Farsi language.21 22 The lack of access to mother tongue education in primary and secondary
schools remains a major challenge in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This access at a young age is
critical both to preserve minorities’ distinct cultural identity, and to promote equality of
opportunities. A lack of teaching in a children’s mother tongue has reportedly been causing high
school dropout and illiteracy rates, notably among Azeri23 and Ahwazi Arab children.24
Children from religious minorities face discriminations to access education. The Ministry of
Education determines the religious curricula of public schools, which must all include a course
on Shia Islamic teachings. All curricula must include a course on Shia Islamic teaching although
Sunnis and members from recognized religious minorities may take separate courses on their
religious beliefs. While pupils from recognized minority faiths have access to religious
instruction designed by members of their religious communities (but approved by the Ministry of
Education), those from unrecognized faiths are obliged to study only Shia Islam.25 In 2017,
children of parents and guardians from the Christian minority have reportedly been threatened to
be expelled from their school if they refused to study Shia Islam.26 Teachings of Sunni religion
in some public schools has reportedly been banned, even those located in predominantly Sunni
areas.27 During its last UPR review session the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran
19
UNPO, https://unpo.org/article/21115
UNPO, https://unpo.org/article/19590
21
ISNA News https://www.isna.ir/news/99031005237/
22
Dur Untash Studies Center, https://www.dusc.org/en/drasat/3966/
23
Association for the human rights of the Azerbaijani people in Iran,
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CRC/Shared%20Documents/IRN/INT_CRC_NGO_IRN_19735_E.pdf
24
Center for Human Rights in Iran, https://www.iranhumanrights.org/2013/10/khuzestan-teachers/
25
2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: Iran, U.S. Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-reporton-international-religious-freedom/iran/
26
Christian Solidarity Worldwide, http://www.csw.org.uk/2017/09/07/news/3694/article.html
27
2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: Iran, U.S. Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-reporton-international-religious-freedom/iran/
20
3