A group of retired teachers held a protest on Sunday, November 10, in front of the Ministry of Education building in Tehran, demanding attention to their unmet needs. Coming from various cities, they expressed dissatisfaction with the non-payment of 60% of the bonuses promised for their 30 years of service.
At the protest, retired educators chanted slogans such as, “Incompetent minister, resign, resign,” “This much injustice, no nation has seen,” “One less embezzlement would solve our problems,” “Teachers, shout out, demand your rights,” “Teachers, rise up, end the discrimination,” “Enough, enough, of this oppression,” and “Lying officials, where are the fruits of my labor?”
One protest participant addressed Education Minister Alireza Kazemi from President Pezeshkian’s administration, saying, “Mr. Minister, your duty is education. When our officials have nothing to offer, they bring up prayer and ritual matters. In his first speech, the minister expressed concern about students’ prayers. Mr. Minister, your responsibility is education.”
Images shared on social media reveal that some retired teachers who traveled from other cities slept in parks in Tehran the night before, braving the cold to participate in the protest.
According to reports in media outlets covering retirees and teachers, this protest is expected to continue on Monday, November 11, in front of the Ministry of Education building in Tehran.
These retired educators, who have been retired for over one or two years, have yet to receive their end-of-service bonuses or see the promised adjustments from the grading reform implemented.
In October, Alireza Kazemi, the Minister of Education in Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration, stated that the upcoming budget would include 50% of the retirement bonuses for teachers this year and next year to bring payments up to date.
This is not the first time retired teachers have held a protest.
On October 22, retired teachers from across Iran also protested in front of the Social Security Organization in Tehran.
Despite promises from the Iranian regime, the living conditions for retirees in Iran continue to deteriorate day by day.
