DUBAI- Iran has forbidden English classes in primary schools after a week of unrest blamed on foreign agents. A senior education officer says, “Teaching English in government and non-government primary schools in the official curriculum is against laws and regulations,” Navid-Adham was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.
“This is because the assumption is that, in primary education, the groundwork for the Iranian culture of the students is laid.”
English teaching in Iran usually starts in middle school around the age of 12-14, though some primary schools start teaching below that age.
The Iranian government blamed the west for provoking recent mass protests against the country, which left at least 21 dead.
In Tehran university, the students attend a protest whereas anti-riot Tehran police stop them to meet the other protesters, in Tehran, Iran, Dec. 30, 2017
The government of Iran also shut access to famous western imported social media platforms including telegram and Instagram. According to the Iranian officials, 21 people were killed and more than 1,000 were arrested during the protests that spread to rural town including more than 80 cities. Thousands of youngsters and unemployed Iranians expressed their anger at unemployment, graft and a wide gap between the rich and poor.
The end of the protest is claimed by Iran, though social media points to the signs of unrest.
