Taher Shir Mohammadi, Deutsche Welle Persian - September 21, 2013
In a 10-point statement, Hassan Rouhani promised that if he became president, he would allow ethnic minorities in Iran to study in their mother tongues. The new school year has arrived, but will the new president’s promise be fulfilled?
As the 2013-2014 school year begins, people in Iran's ethnic regions are waiting for "the unlocking of the mother tongue with the key of Mr. Rouhani." For them, this year's First of Mehr is a test for Rouhani to implement his promise of teaching ethnic languages in the country’s schools.
At the beginning of his 10-point statement, number 3, dated June 3, 2013, Rouhani wrote: "Now that the crucial presidential election has provided this historic opportunity, I am committed and determined, upon the establishment of a government of prudence and hope, to implement the ten principles from the chapter on the rights of the people in the Constitution for the ethnic groups and religions of Iran, so that we may witness a free and prosperous Iran with the participation of all Iranians."
One of the important clauses of this ten-point principle is the fourth clause, which deals with "teaching the mother tongues of Iranians." Some specialists and experts on ethnic affairs, recalling the president's "commitments," lament that the new school year has begun, and there is still no news of teaching mother tongues in schools. They had expected Rouhani to fulfill the provisions of his third statement or at least announce government plans to teach mother tongues in the coming year.
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| Students in Bilingual Regions of Iran Face Language Issues on the First Day of School |
"Exploiting" the Votes of Ethnic Groups
These critics, noting the non-implementation of the 10-point principles, point out that the clause about "public participation, regardless of language and religion, in the management of the country" was not carried out. Even in the cabinet, there is no representative from ethnic minorities or Sunni followers. Similarly, regarding the clause about "selecting qualified local personnel for managerial positions in different regions," governors and other senior local officials have not been chosen from among qualified locals.
It is said that during the 11th government, the "security approach to ethnic groups" persists. Some ethnic elites, considering the current administration's actions, conclude that the needs and demands of the people in these regions have been exploited merely for gathering votes.
Another First of Mehr Without Teaching Mother Tongues
Nasir Diyaeji, a lawyer from the Turkmen region of Golestan, comments on the start of the school year in Turkmen Sahra, saying that with Rouhani coming to power, the situation has not changed so far. He adds, "Since less than a month has passed since Rouhani's government started, we do not expect the immediate implementation of the 'mother tongue education' clause, but we hope that by the next school year, this action will be implemented. Because starting mother tongue education requires preparations, such as resources, the gathering of teachers, and careful planning. We expect that this will be done next year."
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| Nasir Diyaeji, a journalist and lawyer from the Golestan province |
Diyaeji emphasizes, "The Islamic Republic of Iran is now in a position to carry out such a task at the higher levels, and if there is a true will for this matter, it is not impossible to implement it. Therefore, next year, mother tongues of ethnic groups could be taught in schools. It is also very important for those who are entitled to pursue this matter because any promise brings hope to us, and we believe that we can peacefully pursue our rights."
The Educational Crisis in Ethnic Regions
Emilia Nercissians, a linguist and university professor in Tehran, believes that the time has come for teaching the mother tongues of ethnic groups in the country, and the conditions for its implementation are in place.
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| Emilia Nercissians, Professor of Anthropology |
Nercissians, noting the educational decline in the bilingual regions of the country, reminds us, "Children up to the age of 11 have not yet developed cognitive proficiency in Persian. If they can acquire this proficiency in their lessons, we will not see a decline in their education. It appears that children in the early elementary years, from the age of 7 to 11, undergo a critical period. Bilingual students struggle to learn a language and reach the cognitive level that monolingual children take for granted."
Nercissians explains the consequences of educational decline: "When we have educational decline, our human resources are at risk, and these people will never have the chance to study in official institutions in the country, which can lead to a catastrophe. Language is a tool for learning, and especially for bilingual children in the early years, it is necessary to help them reach cognitive proficiency in their mother tongue and, alongside it, learn Persian."
Conditions for Teaching Mother Tongues Are Ready
Nercissians, considering the start of the new school year and the availability of the technical and educational staff for teaching ethnic languages in schools, says: "Among ethnic groups, there are people who, because of their love and passion for their language and literature, are able to take on the task of teaching their language. If they can educate one generation, they will naturally pass this skill to the next generation, which can then teach the language."
Nercissians, an expert on education and the challenges faced by bilinguals in the country, further explains that since Iran's education system is centralized, there needs to be proper policy-making regarding the teaching of ethnic languages in schools. She also suggests: "Private non-profit schools and universities with approval from the Ministry of Science, Education, or any other educational institution could also work in this regard. The key is that this issue must be addressed in the policy-making of the relevant authorities, with a focused effort on promoting and developing the languages of ethnic groups."
Both Nasir Diyaeji, the lawyer from Golestan, and Emilia Nersessians, the linguist and professor in Tehran, agree that establishing non-profit schools, universities, and educational institutions for ethnic groups can support the government's plans for teaching mother tongues in the country.
Nasir Diyaeji also raises the question: The new school year began on Monday, September 23, 2013, with a message from the new president. Will Mr. Rouhani remember the hundreds of thousands of Iranians who were promised the teaching of mother tongues?
The link to the original article in Farsi on Deutsche Welle Persian:
اول مهر و وعده روحانی برای تدریس زبانهای مادری اقوام