Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, June 09, 2014
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| According to official statistics, a significant portion of the illiterate population in the province consists of women, highlighting a notable gender disparity in literacy rates. |
The Governor of East Azerbaijan Province States that the Province Ranks 20th in Iran’s Literacy List
The governor of East Azerbaijan, Ismail Jabarzadeh, announced that the province ranks 20th in terms of literacy among Iran’s provinces, stating that this position is not suitable for East Azerbaijan.
“Being ranked so low in terms of literacy among provinces does not reflect the honor of our province,” said the governor, emphasizing that illiteracy is linked to increased crime and social disturbances in societies.
According to ISNA news agency, Ismail Jabarzadeh made these remarks during a meeting of the East Azerbaijan Education Council.
According to widely cited statistics on literacy levels in Iran's provinces, illiteracy is higher in areas inhabited by non-Persian populations.
Educational experts have noted that the negative effects of the prohibition of education in one's native language in Iran are not only reflected in illiteracy rates but also in higher education.
In a study conducted by southern researcher and writer Ali Reza Sarrafi on the education situation of non-Persians in Iran, it was shown that as the level of education increases, the number of non-Persians decreases. The results of Sarrafi’s study were also included in a report presented by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, to the UN General Assembly on September 13, 2012.
Link to the original text in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Şərqi Azərbaycan İranda savadlılıq səviyyəsi ən aşağı olan vilayətlərdəndir