Need to Strengthen Prayer Culture and Develop Student Associations

The head of the Organization of Schools and Non-Governmental Centers said developing social participation and establishing student associations in non-governmental schools are key priorities of the organization, and stressed cooperation from the responsible deputies.

According to the report of Ambassador Arjan, quoted by the Ministry of Education, the 132nd meeting of the steering council of the transformation of the organization of schools and non-governmental centers and the development of popular partnerships was held in the presence of Ahmed Mahmudzadeh, the deputy minister of education and head of the organization, and Mansur Sargazi, the vice president of culture, education and research of the national prayer headquarters, and with the participation of the heads of partnerships and the officials of the provincial prayer headquarters in person and in a webinar. This meeting was held with the aim of synergizing in the realization of educational macro strategies and strengthening the culture of prayer in schools across the country by utilizing the capacity of education councils and development of student organizations.

At the beginning of this meeting, while honoring the memory of the great founder of the Islamic Revolution, the martyr leader of the revolution, the precious martyrs of the revolution, especially the cultural martyrs and students, Mahmoudzadeh praised the diligent efforts of the country's prayer headquarters in order to deepen and promote the enlightened culture of prayer in the country's schools.

Pointing to the brilliant records of joint cooperation with the prayer service staff, especially the continuous follow-ups of Mansour Sargazi, the vice president of culture, education and research of the country's prayer service staff, he said: the strategic management and promotion measures that have been carried out in recent years to connect the young generation with the duty of prayer are very valuable, and the organization of non-governmental schools stands with all its strength by the servants of this field.

Prayer is the first educational priority in the Ministry of Education

Emphasizing the special importance of this divine duty in the ministry's grand plans, the Deputy Minister of Education noted: offering prayers and being concerned about promoting its culture is one of the main priorities of the ministry's top official. Our approach in different governments and especially in the current period is to pay maximum attention to this educational principle. In this regard, the honorable minister's emphatic emphasis is that there should be no shortcoming in the establishment of congregational prayer in schools.

Referring to executive policies, Mahmoudzadeh clarified: The principle is to perform congregational prayers. Even if the number of students is limited in a school, this duty should not be closed. If only one student is present, the congregational prayer must be held with the presence of a teacher or coach; Because this action itself is a practical classroom for the religious education of students.

Using legal capacities to strengthen prayer

In another part of his speech, the head of the Organization of Non-Governmental Schools and Centers emphasized the need to make maximum use of legal frameworks and said: The capacity of education councils in the provinces is a strategic potential for advancing educational goals. According to the circulars sent to the provinces, the head of the province prayer service is an official member of the education council meetings.

Addressing the provincial officials, he called for serious monitoring of this process and added: All managers and heads of public participation departments in the provinces are expected to seriously monitor the active presence of the heads of the prayer staff in the meetings of the education councils. We must make sure that in all provincial macro-decisions, cultural attachment and offering prayers are seriously considered and followed up.

Ahmad Mahmoudzadeh explained the executive roadmap for the realization of educational goals in the education system and stated: Fortunately, with continuous follow-up, a circular jointly signed by the honorable minister of the country and the honorable minister of education has been compiled and issued. This document, which consists of 10 basic axes for the quality of cultural activities, offering prayers and connecting with the Holy Qur'an in schools, will be the main basis of our joint actions with the headquarters of offering prayers.

Capacity building through the Education Council

Emphasizing that this directive covers all the schools of the country, both government and non-government, the Deputy Minister of Education added: The capacity of the Education Council is a trans-sectoral and strategic platform in which many institutions such as municipalities and other responsible institutions are present. We will use this capacity to advance educational activities qualitatively, and these 10 axes will be considered as the main performance indicators of the provincial education departments in the organization's monitoring systems.

In another part of his speech, the head of the Organization of Non-Governmental Schools and Centers explained the national plan of "Prayer School" and said: "One of our operational plans in this period is to identify and introduce monthly "Prayer School" in 728 educational and training schools of the country. "According to the planning, with the cooperation of the vice-chancellor of education of the ministry and the prayer staff, the evaluation indicators have been compiled and communicated to the provinces."

He pointed out: "Our goal is that in all educational and educational areas, at least one madrassa will be introduced and praised as the best example in the field of offering prayers." Awarding a certificate of appreciation in this field is not only a symbolic act, but it will be a permanent record of honor in the cultural and educational record of that school (whether governmental or non-governmental), which shows the special attention of the group to the religious education of students.

Focusing on specialized training with an educational approach

Mahmoudzadeh stated that the educational axes with the "educational-cultural" approach have been determined as special priorities of the organization, and noted that with the cooperation of the National Prayer Headquarters, detailed planning has been done for the training of teachers, founders and managers. The executive prioritization in this educational course is determined based on the age of the students' assignments; This means that the main focus will be on training the teachers of the third grade (girls) and then the eighth and ninth grades (boys).

He emphasized: These trainings should be designed in a purposeful and effective way so that the teachers can lead the students towards humanity through prayer with complete mastery. In this direction, the targeting group in the provinces are obliged to seriously follow the implementation of these courses and report the results continuously.

Emphasizing the need to systematize educational and training activities, Ahmad Mahmudzadeh addressed the provincial administrators and stated: One of our serious demands from the provinces is to compile and send a detailed timetable for teacher empowerment courses. These trainings are not only limited to the field of promoting prayer culture; It also includes supplementary packages such as "bio-ethical plans" and other special educational programs for teachers of non-government schools, which must be implemented in specific time frames with the cooperation of the provincial prayer headquarters.

Referring to the arrival of the Quran, Atrat and Prayer Week in the first half of November, the Deputy Minister of Education emphasized the necessity of preparations ahead of time in the provinces and added: "This year, we have prepared a special program for this week, the pilot of which will be held in one of the non-governmental schools in Tehran with the presence of the highest official of the Ministry. It is expected that all the provinces, with maximum synergy, will put appropriate programs for this week on their agenda."

The complete preparation of education and training for the celebration of student homework

The head of the Organization of Non-Governmental Schools and Centers and the Development of People's Partnerships, by analyzing the performance of the past years, stated: This year, we have a strong determination to hold the "Homework Celebration" ceremonies of students with prosperity and high quality, with special support from the regions and provinces, with the aim of making educational events more impressive and effective.

Announcing the readiness for the presence of staff officials in the provinces, he noted that the Ministry of Education is ready to send representatives to participate in the grand ceremonies of the province if necessary.

At the end of his executive instructions, the head of the organization of non-governmental schools and centers emphasized to the provincial administrators: All the administrators of the regions and provinces are expected to take serious care and present a detailed action plan for the realization of education. This process should proceed through the "Manpower Committee" and with the agreement and constructive interaction with the "Coordinating Council of the Province's Founders" in order to develop a comprehensive, timed plan.

He pointed out that the implementation of these programs is based on the cooperation of the prayer headquarters, the Supreme Council of the Qur'an and other related institutions. Allocated financial resources should be used carefully and fully monitored in this direction, and if additional resources are needed, the provinces should rely on creativity and identify local capacities, and look for synergies with partner institutions.

Passing the quantitative approach and focusing on qualitative outputs in the educational system

Emphasizing the change of approach from statistical reports to effective activities, Ahmad Mahmoudzadeh stated: Our main concern in this direction is not just reporting statistics; Rather, we seek to do a qualitative, deep and effective work. The ultimate goal of these programs is that the teachings presented to the teachers are transferred to the student body in an efficient process and we witness the manifestation of this religious education in the students' behavior, character and manners.

He added: These programs have been placed on the operational path with the synergy within the organization as well as planning in the Education Council across the country. It is expected that with continuous follow-up, we will witness a concrete and lasting change in the field of promoting the culture of offering prayers and deepening religious beliefs in the country's schools.

The Deputy Minister of Education further listed the development of students' social participation and the establishment of student organizations in non-governmental schools as other important axes of the organization's activity and said: "Achieving this goal requires close cooperation between the provinces, responsible vice-presidents and student organizations, as well as strict follow-up of executive measures."

Mahmoudzadeh emphasized that holding meetings alone cannot guarantee the achievement of goals, and stated: the current situation of schools in terms of the establishment of student organizations should be determined, the results of the meetings and actions taken should be evaluated, and detailed planning should be done for the quantitative and qualitative development of activities.

At the end of this meeting, Mahmoudzadeh emphasized the necessity of transferring national and religious concepts to the new generation, especially students. In this meeting, referring to the approaching occasion of the Day of Allah, November 13th, he emphasized the need for a strong presence in these days and the formation of a headquarters to transform the programs into "school-oriented" and "institute-oriented" activities, and stated: The purpose of this approach is to leave the purely administrative space and convey the concepts of fighting global arrogance and confronting the Zionist regime through holding exhibitions, booths and marches in schools and non-governmental centers.

He also stated that plans for commemorating women's week and mother's day with the focus on "chaste life and explaining the philosophy of hijab and chastity" as well as holding ceremonies related to the Fatimid days, with the creative participation of government and non-government schools, are on the agenda.