A Systematic Review of the Critiques and Problems of Fundamental Reform Document of Education in the Islamic Republic of Iran

The Fundamental Reform Document of Education is the most important upstream document for the realization of the goals of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the field of education. The aim of this research was to restore and update this document through a systematic review of its criticisms and problems. Based on the findings, the three basic criticisms of the document are the idealism of the goals, extreme centralism and sloganeering, and politicization. Also, the findings indicate that the need for cooperation and decision-making for the implementation of the document, weakness in the provision of specialized human resources and lack of funds are among the most important challenges for those involved in the implementation of the document. Findings related to the reform approach reveal the need of the document to revise and establish a balance between basic concepts such as types of identity and adding neglected topics such as creativity, tolerance, democracy, citizenship rights and freedom. Also, the findings of the research on the implementation approach reveal that part of the implementation challenges of the document are related to the political structure of the country and relations between different social organizations. In addition to this, the findings of the research revealed that in the supplementary approach, the proposals based on the updating of the document can be divided into two general groups i.e. concerns related to the difference between the document and social realities of Iran global society; and attention to the shortcomings of the document in issues such as sex education, education of exceptional children and environmental education.