Development discourses on the educational system of Iran: A critical analysis of their effects

Abstract

Three decades have passed since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran and, entering the fourth decade, major changes are apparent in the structure and content of the nation's education system. Because of the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran and the regime change and formation of an Islamic state, the changes in the educational system have been necessary to fulfill the ideals and goals of the new Islamic government. There have been discourses for each of these four decades, which controlled and directed the process of change in the education system. A comparative study of these changes shows that none of the four discourses following the Islamic Revolution have been helpful in the creation of real change of the educational system; and, hence, the educational system of Iran has not been able to achieve the fundamental reforms in social, political, cultural and religious fields. The aim of this paper is to present and explain the four discourses which have dominated the four decades of the Islamic revolution, how and why these discourses prevented the emergence of a changed and successful educational system and, ultimately, suggest ways to solve the problems that have arisen with regard to the educational system.