Management of school closures has been transferred to the Ministry of Education. Rezvan Hakimzadeh, the Deputy Minister of Primary Education, announced in her recent meeting that this ministry has become the authority for decision-making regarding school closures, and with this change, decisions can be made according to the conditions of each region instead of nationwide closures.
The Necessity of Preserving Learning Time
Hakimzadeh pointed out the importance of preserving students' learning time, stating: "The learning time in our country is significantly less compared to many other countries. This lack of time harms students' learning outcomes." She mentioned that often, for various reasons such as air pollution and energy imbalance, the first places to close are schools, and these decisions can damage learning time.
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Experience of the Corona Era
The Deputy Minister of Primary Education referred to the experience during the Corona era and said: "Iran was one of the countries with the longest period of school closures, while many countries reopened their schools after about a month despite having advanced technological facilities." She also reminded that reports from the World Health Organization indicate that schools are not the starting point of Corona and that children are not at serious risk.
Hakimzadeh emphasized that there should be more careful consideration regarding school closures and stressed the need for cultural development to reduce school closures. She stated: "If we provide the necessary training and reconsider our consumption behavior, we can largely prevent school closures."
Analysis of School Closures and Energy Imbalance
The Deputy Minister of Primary Education further referred to a research report that examined various factors of school closures. She stated that the results of this study showed that school closures do not significantly impact reducing energy imbalance, and therefore, more precise decisions are needed in this area.
Hakimzadeh, referring to the standards for school closures during air pollution, added: "In many countries, even when the level of air pollution exceeds our criteria, schools continue to operate." She emphasized the necessity of revising some policies and serious cultural development in managing learning time.
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