Wajhat Watan: 'Open Your Heart, Minister of Education'

Strange are the accusations leveled by the Ministry of Education against a group of teachers who protested transfer decisions from one school to another via social media, and even stranger are the administrative penalties that followed, which included suspensions from work for periods of up to three months, along with the suspension of their salaries.

Has mere criticism of administrative decisions—most of which were framed as inquiries and requests for clarification regarding timing, feasibility, and readiness—come to be regarded, as reported by the suspended teachers, as “interfering with the administrative authority’s jurisdiction, inciting against the Ministry, and also mobilizing public opinion”? Are there more elastic charges than these, applied to ordinary tweets by many teachers that were, in their entirety, part of legitimate criticism and justified questions, in which we saw neither insult, nor abuse, nor even accusation?

Did the Ministry of Education not reconsider its decision on teacher transfers to accept appeals not from just 10 or 100 teachers, but from 1,311 complaints filed by approximately 8,300 male and female teachers? This indicates that the decision lacked professionalism, in addition to being unexpected, and thus it was natural that it would face criticism, rejection, and appeals.

I am not here to discuss transfer policies or sudden contract cancellations; rather, I am specifically addressing the Ministry of Education’s intolerance of criticism or objection, the penalty for which has reached the point of suspension from work and salary without any crime, felony, or even insult having been committed. This is a negative development that allows any administration, body, or ministry to evade criticism, thereby silencing any voice and preventing any objection, however responsible or professional it may be, and however much it serves the public interest.

I am aware that Minister of Education Jalal Al-Tabatabaei faces considerable pressures and burdens that give rise to many questions and also criticism. However, whoever accepts a position must bear its responsibilities, and among the least of these responsibilities is “broadening one’s chest” toward criticisms related to decisions, especially sudden ones that upend teachers’ lives, provided they are free of insult, defamation, or unsubstantiated accusations.