Only "10 to 15 percent" of Iranian students have returned to school; uncertainty over payments

Iran's Minister of Education says that only 10 to 15 percent of students have returned to classrooms after schools reopened.

According to ISNA news agency, Mohsen Haji Mirzaei, speaking at a press conference on Sunday, May 18, considered the closure of schools in October to be a rumor.

Schools in Iran have reopened since Saturday, May 17, with the approval of the National Coronavirus Task Force. According to the decision of this task force, students are not required to attend schools and can contact teachers to resolve academic problems.

In recent days, there have been reports that various schools have charged families for some extracurricular services during the coronavirus crisis, but have neither provided these services nor refunded the parents' money.

Referring to this problem, Mr. Haji Mirzaei demanded that this money be "returned."

The Minister of Education also said that there has been correspondence regarding support for imprisoned teachers. He did not provide details on this matter.

In recent days, imprisoned teacher Mahmoud Beheshti Langroodi returned to prison after his leave was not extended.

In other news, the Islamshahr Teachers' Association announced that imprisoned teacher Ismail Abdi has been sentenced to 10 years in prison again "in a fabricated and false case" that had been closed.

Source: Radio Farda