After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini, on December 28, 1979, ordered the establishment of the Literacy Movement Organization. Regarding the formation of this organization, he stated: “You are all well aware that the previous regime overshadowed the combatant Iranian nation with despotism and dictatorship, and with absurd propaganda and the overstating of minor issues were kept in the dark. A nation deprived of basic needs was made to believe that they were at the zenith of prosperity. Among the fundamental needs of any nation is free education for all; the same applies for health and housing. Regretfully, our nation was deprived of this basic welfare by the previous regime. Most of our citizens are illiterate and are unable to read and write, let alone partake in higher education.”
In another part of his message, he asked the people to be active in eradicating illiteracy: “We have to mobilize ourselves, God willing, everybody should be able to read and write in the near future. To achieve this objective, every illiterate man and woman should be prepared to learn, while every literate person should be prepared to teach others how to read and write. The Ministry of Education should carry out this program wholeheartedly... I humbly request my faithful and devoted Muslim brothers and sisters to prepare themselves to uproot this painful shortcoming.”
After the issuance of Imam Khomeini’s order regarding the formation of the Literacy Movement, a core group was formed, in which representatives from the Ministry of Education, Jihad for Construction, the clergy and the Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research participated. This organization was managed by a council. One of the first actions of the Literacy Movement was to prepare educational textbooks in line with the values of the Islamic Revolution.
On December 27, 1980, i.e., a year after the formation of the Literacy Movement, Imam Khomeini, while speaking to a gathering of the officials of this organization and its participants, expressed his hope that literacy would be well-received in Iran. He spoke about the inseparability of education and personal development, emphasizing that: “I want all Iranians to assist in this great and vital task. The officials who go to the rural areas should invite those who are illiterate to enroll in the literacy program… No power can rule over our country if the people acquire knowledge and culture, learn what the purpose of knowledge is and the direction in which they must move.”
The formation of the first classes for promoting literacy amongst the people began in 1980. In 1981, each province was tasked with holding basic education classes. In the same year, the first textbook for adult literacy was published.
Then, on May 11, 1982, Imam Khomeini appointed Hujjat al‑Islam Mohsen Qaraati as his representative in the Literacy Movement. On doing so, he said: “Given the significance of literacy and the promotion of Islamic culture and sciences, and in view of your experience in this regard, you are appointed as my representative to the Literacy Movement Organization. It is hoped that you will fulfill this heavy responsibility efficiently, in collaboration with the honored officials of this organization and the Education Ministry. Obviously, the support of the superintendents of the Literacy Movement and the Education Ministry, and your making use of all existing resources, will facilitate your victory over illiteracy, one of the evil legacies of the former arrogant system. I ask God Almighty to grant you success in this endeavor.”
In 1983, the basic level mathematics textbook was published. By the end of that year, textbooks on Quran reading, Islamic culture and ethics were also written and ready to be used in the advanced levels of the Literacy Movement.
The goal of the Literacy Movement was to educate a large number of illiterate people in the country between the years 1980 and 1984, under the supervision of the Literacy Movement Council. Eventually, the administrative structures of the Literacy Movement were approved by the Council of Ministers on January 23, 1985. Thereafter, the Literacy Movement was given a constitution and transformed into an official organization. As a result, adults also benefited from educational programs on various subjects, including reading and writing skills, mathematics, child upbringing and Islamic culture.
During these years, the Literacy Movement implemented various programs, like the ones carried out in factories and prisons, and one-on-one teaching programs. In addition, programs such as “a step towards the light,” “teaching during military service” and “teaching in the masjids” were implemented to offer services to individuals such as Afghani and Iraqi refugees, prisoners of war, soldiers and government employees, while still being under the umbrella of the Literacy Movement programs.
From its formation until 2011, under the leadership of Hujjat al-Islam Mohsen Qaraati, the Literacy Movement offered educational services in three levels: basic, intermediate and advanced. In 2011, when Ali Baqerzadeh took over the presidency of the Literacy Movement Organization, the program underwent changes after being approved by the Supreme Council of Education and Training. It turned into literacy programs, consolidation, and transition. The literacy program is a 400-hour course that can be increased to 550 hours. In this program, adults acquire the minimum skills of reading and writing. Through the consolidation program, they find an opportunity to practice what they have learned. This course is designed for those who do not want to pursue further education. The transition program provides an opportunity for continuing their education. It consists of 800 hours of education, of which 200 hours would be provided via distance learning.
In recent years, the Literacy Movement Organization has implemented various programs for its beneficiaries, including a national program known as local learning centers in order to promote literacy. Through this program, in addition to reading and writing, life skills are also covered in the classes.
In the reading with family program, individuals who have joined the Literacy Movement, but do not have access to local learning centers, receive nine free books and then share them in groups consisting of three or more members of one family. If the number of students is more than five, the instructor will then divide them into smaller groups based on factors such as place of residence, age, interests, relationships among learners, and the type of books. The members of each group will choose one person as the group leader, who is then responsible for organizing classes and sessions for sharing learning difficulties.
Reading circles is another program in which an educated volunteer takes the responsibility of teaching a group of learners. The reading circles program has four levels, each requiring the learners to study ten books. This program targets individuals who are studying at basic and intermediate levels, as well as those who have dropped out of school. Since 2014, the Literacy Movement Organization has initiated a program known as education for illiterate parents. This program is carried out in collaboration with school administrators.
Furthermore, people with disabilities also receive educational services within the Literacy Movement. In these programs, individuals who are blind, deaf, physically disabled and who have learning difficulties constitute the target group. For the blind and those with poor vision, who have not had the opportunity to receive education, books written in Braille have been produced. In addition, physically disabled individuals receive financial assistance from the Literacy Movement Organization.
The self-learning program was launched in 2015. Through this program, illiterate individuals aged between 10 and 49 can participate in an educational course with the help of their relatives. If, at the end of the program, they pass the exams conducted by the Literacy Movement, they will be entitled to receive cash and non-cash rewards and incentives.
One of the important programs for promoting literacy is conducted in collaboration with UNICEF. As a result, negotiations have been held with the UN Commissioner and UNICEF for the implementation of a Norwegian literacy program. This program is specifically designed for foreign nationals living in Iran.
The officials of the Literacy Movement Organization have also incorporated technological advancements into their programs. For example, tablet-based learning is one of these initiatives, which has so far been implemented only in the Khuzestan province.
In addition, some learners participating in literacy programs throughout the country are also undergoing the basic levels of the International Computer Driving License (ICDL) course. Electronic libraries have also been opened in Tehran, Zanjan, Qazvin and Khorasan Razavi provinces, while some textbooks used in literacy programs are currently being made into a mobile application.
The importance of literacy and the fight against illiteracy has been repeatedly emphasized and mentioned by Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution.
For example, he has said: “The efforts of all those involved in promoting literacy through the Literacy Movement are a form of jihad and divine struggle. In fact, going to remote areas, organizing classes in houses and masjids, and offering the gift of knowledge and literacy to the people without expecting appreciation, are all seen as acts of jihad. Illiteracy is a stain on all human societies, but for a revolutionary Islamic society in this era, where great powers take advantage of the illiteracy and ignorance of people, it is even more shameful. I do not want to degrade the illiterate people, but illiteracy is a shame. Both the illiterate and literate must make efforts towards its eradication.”
Archive of Culture and Art
leave your comments