Violation of Children’s Rights: War Narratives to Be Included in Textbooks

Alireza Kazemi, the Minister of Education, has announced that “narratives of the recent war will be included in textbooks.”

Emphasizing that “many of our textbooks have been printed and are ready for distribution, but we are working on special measures to reflect narratives of the Shajarah Tayyibah School in Minab, parts of the Third Imposed War, and the martyrdom of the Supreme Leader in textbooks,” he added: “We will strive to beautifully reflect the memory and names of the martyrs and the authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran during the Third Imposed War in our textbooks.”

During the 12-day war, a new educational package titled “Defending Our Iran,” consisting of government narratives on topics such as “hybrid warfare,” “our region,” and “introducing martyrs,” was introduced in Iranian schools starting in late 2025. These measures are part of an effort to alter textbook content by emphasizing military and ideological concepts. This comes as Iran’s education system remains one of the most ideological and religious in the world, dedicating at least three times the global average to religious instruction through various subjects and extracurricular activities.

This comes as the teaching of concepts that promote violence, militarism, or the involvement of children in paramilitary activities is recognized in international documents, particularly the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), as a violation of several key articles. These include Article 29, which stresses that a child’s education should prepare them for “responsible life in a free society” in a spirit of understanding, peace, and tolerance, and Article 19, which obligates countries to protect children from all forms of physical and mental abuse.