Repeating the same mistakes?
Less than three decades ago when the Revolution was so young, they closed the universities to infiltrate it from 'enemy agents'. It has a long story; I have written about it before. When they re-opened the universities less than two years later, the new management put aside many of the students and the professors labeling them un-Islamic and so and so. When for the first time after the re-opening, they held an entrance exam, those who had passed the tough scientific competition had to pass through an ideological passage as well to be checked whether there is any anti or non-Islamic microbe in their souls and minds. Those who were suspicious to have something wrong, were given a star beside their names in the list of admitted students. A part of them were actually let in and a part of them had to kiss away or postpone higher education in Iran, because they were not ok'ed. Being un-Islamic was something attaching you very very easily, a loose hijab, having a fishy book in hand, an improper appearance, a gossip against you, whatever.
We thought those days have joined the history and we thought we have begun to breath into a new atmosphere. Seems not:
In Iran, for getting any kind of degree you have to compete a very tough scientific exam. It is the same for all levels; going from high school to get a bachelor, improving to have a master, or getting a PhD, for all need you to prepare so well, so perfect. When the exam is done, then it takes a few months for the list of the accepted to be published. This year, we are hearing the old stories we were going to forget; again a group of accepted people have stars beside their names.
The ending days of Sep are the time for enrolling in universities. The students with stars beside their names are divided into two groups- we have heard:
Group 1- one star: these people should sign a paper promising that they won't take part in any political activities and if they do they are ready for being kicked out from the university.
Group 2- two stars: these people won't be enrolled now. Their profile should go under further investigation. If they get an ok, they will enroll. If not, they have to kiss off the education too.
In a recent interview, the minister for higher education has denied the news. He says that's a lie. But the students have interviewed the journalists and have given names and info on their status. There are still discussions and arguments over the reactions toward the 'starred' students among the officials themselves. Let's hope they have learned that the time is not proper to repeat the same arrogant behavior they used to have some 30 years ago. If they don't let a young man or girl to educate in his country, what he/she'll do? He/she will apply for a foreign university as soon as possible and most probably never would get back. Who would be the big loser? The country which has paid for their free education.
Less than three decades ago when the Revolution was so young, they closed the universities to infiltrate it from 'enemy agents'. It has a long story; I have written about it before. When they re-opened the universities less than two years later, the new management put aside many of the students and the professors labeling them un-Islamic and so and so. When for the first time after the re-opening, they held an entrance exam, those who had passed the tough scientific competition had to pass through an ideological passage as well to be checked whether there is any anti or non-Islamic microbe in their souls and minds. Those who were suspicious to have something wrong, were given a star beside their names in the list of admitted students. A part of them were actually let in and a part of them had to kiss away or postpone higher education in Iran, because they were not ok'ed. Being un-Islamic was something attaching you very very easily, a loose hijab, having a fishy book in hand, an improper appearance, a gossip against you, whatever.
We thought those days have joined the history and we thought we have begun to breath into a new atmosphere. Seems not:
In Iran, for getting any kind of degree you have to compete a very tough scientific exam. It is the same for all levels; going from high school to get a bachelor, improving to have a master, or getting a PhD, for all need you to prepare so well, so perfect. When the exam is done, then it takes a few months for the list of the accepted to be published. This year, we are hearing the old stories we were going to forget; again a group of accepted people have stars beside their names.
The ending days of Sep are the time for enrolling in universities. The students with stars beside their names are divided into two groups- we have heard:
Group 1- one star: these people should sign a paper promising that they won't take part in any political activities and if they do they are ready for being kicked out from the university.
Group 2- two stars: these people won't be enrolled now. Their profile should go under further investigation. If they get an ok, they will enroll. If not, they have to kiss off the education too.
In a recent interview, the minister for higher education has denied the news. He says that's a lie. But the students have interviewed the journalists and have given names and info on their status. There are still discussions and arguments over the reactions toward the 'starred' students among the officials themselves. Let's hope they have learned that the time is not proper to repeat the same arrogant behavior they used to have some 30 years ago. If they don't let a young man or girl to educate in his country, what he/she'll do? He/she will apply for a foreign university as soon as possible and most probably never would get back. Who would be the big loser? The country which has paid for their free education.
posted by Laila @ 4:54 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Hi Leila,
I was reading your "Iranians are not Martians", and the university entry post. It all seems so odd. I remember when I was in Iran, they told me that it was illegal to play music with female vocalists. And that they, if it came from the west - preferrred instrumental music only. So we went into this store somewhere in the country, it wasn;t Teheran, and they sold tapes of Joe Satriani. In the States, he is often considered to be on the 'heavy heavy metal' list. So you couldn't buy Madonna, but you could buy Satriani. Obviously the people in power knew who Madonna was, but were clueless as to who Joe Satriani was. If only they kwew.
Leila,
How have you been? Havent heard from you in a while. Hope everthing is okay.
-Cheers
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