Shadow of Energy Shortfall Over Classrooms: Will Schools Close?

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, referring to the current status of school activities nationwide, said: At present there is no serious problem with school operations, and only in some parts of Hormozgan Province is instruction being conducted online. Other schools across the country are continuing in-person classes.

Ali Farhadi, the spokesperson for education, said about the possibility of virtualization of schools: Now education in the country's schools is face-to-face, and if special conditions arise in a city or region, a decision will be made according to the situation of that region.

According to Ambassador Arjan's report, he added: If a decision is made in one province to change the way of education, there is no requirement that this decision be extended to other provinces as well. Because the conditions of each region must be checked separately.

Referring to the current situation of schools in the country, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Education said: Currently, there is no acute problem in the field of school activities, and only in some parts of Hormozgan province, education is being followed virtually. Other schools of the country also continue their face-to-face activities.

Farhadi explained about the new model of reopening schools that was proposed earlier by the Minister of Education: This model was developed with the aim of internal coordination in the education complex so that in case of special events or conditions in a region, it would be possible to make a decision according to the situation of that region.

Earlier, Alireza Kazemi, the Minister of Education, during his provincial trip to Razavi Khorasan and in the meeting of teachers of Bejestan city, announced the separate examination of the conditions of the regions for the reopening of schools.

Based on the explanations given by the Minister of Education, in areas that face security threats, the possibility of using the combined model of education and the capacity of safe spaces for the continuity of face-to-face communication between students and teachers will be investigated.

In response to a question about the possibility of closing schools due to the lack of energy carriers, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Education stated: Currently, there is no shortage of energy carriers and classes are held face-to-face.

Emphasizing the priority of face-to-face education in schools, Farhadi said: School education is different from university education, and an important part of this difference is related to the school's educational role and teaching life skills to students.

Referring to the importance of the educational role of schools, he said: Education in school is not limited to learning textbooks, but students in the school environment, in addition to learning lessons, also learn personal, social and educational skills.

Farhadi clarified: Waking up on time in the morning, performing ablution and praying, eating breakfast, arranging clothes and preparing the necessary items for the next day are all part of the process of training and learning life skills.

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Education continued: These skills are strengthened during daily life and with the continuous presence of students in the educational environment, therefore face-to-face education plays an important role in the education of students in addition to knowledge transfer.

He stated that in the opinion of this ministry, face-to-face education is the main priority, and clarified: If we have to follow the education in an absentee way due to the special conditions of the country, this method will be better than closing schools completely. Because it allows students to continue learning.

Pointing out that the decision about the education method depends on the conditions of the country, Farhadi said: the conditions should progress in such a way that there is no need for schools to be absent and the education of students continues in the school environment.