languages until the end of secondary school in Iranian schools.20 It is not clear whether the
Ministry of Education has decided to appeal the ruling or whether it will be implemented. 21
In its General Comment on Article 13 of the Convention, the Committee on Economic Social
and Cultural Rights stipulates that education should be accessible for all and “flexible so it can
adapt to the needs of changing societies and communities and respond to the needs of students
within their diverse social and cultural settings.” 22 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,23 yet ethnic minorities lack access to education in their mother tongue. Additionally,
Article 13 also “requires States to take positive measures that enable and assist individuals and
communities to enjoy the right to education”.24 The failure to take measures to address de facto
educational discrimination may amount to a violation of Article 13. 25 As of February 2021,
Ahwazi Arabs and Azeris still lack access to education in their mother tongue which have been
preventing them from staying in school and learn how to read and write.
Recommendation Status:
This recommendation has NOT been implemented.
20
Tasnim News Agency: https://tn.ai/2229748
Following an electoral promise of President Rouhani during his 2013 election campaign, the government announced in 2015
that a university program on Kurdish language and literature would be introduced at the University of Kurdistan in Sanandaj,
which has been implemented now. A Similar program for ”Azerbaijani Turkish language“ was also announced for 2016 by the
government, which is now launched.21 The government also announced in 2015 that Baluchi language courses would be
introduced at the university of Sistan & Baluchistan, which has not been implemented yet. See: University of Kurdistan
https://uok.ac.ir/fa/faculties/literature/departments/kurdish.aspx Tasnim News Agency: https://tn.ai/1670519 Daneshjoo News
Agency: https://snn.ir/001kvb
22
CESCR General Comment No. 13: The Right to Education (Art. 13), https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4538838c22.pdf
23
UNPO, https://unpo.org/article/21115
24
CESCR General Comment No. 13: The Right to Education (Art. 13), https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4538838c22.pdf
25
Ibid.
21
3