The need to create an economic deputy in education
The need to create an economic deputy in education
The founder of Gaj International Publishing explained the need to reconsider existing attitudes in the field of education. He came up with ways to save money as well as increase efficiency in education.

Founder of Gaj International Publishing: The need to create an economic deputy in education

TEHRAN (Iran News) The founder of Gaj International Publishing explained the need to reconsider existing attitudes in the field of education and offered solutions to save costs as well as increase efficiency in the field of education.

Abolfazl Jokar stressed the need to change attitudes in the construction and renovation of schools. “The old view of building and renovating schools needs to change so that schools become more attractive places for children and adolescents,” he said. The new generation needs more attractive spaces for education. Due to the expansion of communication and easier access to the features of schools in other countries of the world, students compare their educational conditions with those countries. This creates a kind of frustration in the students. Most of our educational spaces are not suitable.

“Many large public schools are located on the main streets and squares of major cities,” he said. These are not suitable for school due to their long history and the state of noise and traffic pollution, but they are well priced anyway. At the same time as selling these properties, in a quiet environment, schools can be renovated with a new attitude and the surplus income can be invested in the infrastructure of education.

“We can also put the construction of schools in different environments on the agenda,” said the founder of Gaj International Publishing. For example, build schools in parks so that students can study in a lively atmosphere. The size of some parks allows the establishment of several schools. After the Islamic Revolution, many parks have been built throughout the country. Naturally, students learn more calmly when they get to school in a quiet and peaceful environment and away from the noise of the street and the crowded environment.

Jokar stressed the need to save money in high-yield areas. “The constant changes in textbooks lead to increased costs for reprinting textbooks,” he said of the disadvantages of constant textbook changes. The cost of used paper for these is staggering. In most developed countries, textbooks are revised at intervals of several years. When textbook changes are limited to time intervals of, for example, five years or more, a textbook can be used for up to several years. This will reduce the cost to families. The founder of Gaj International Publishing said that Education publishes more than 135 million textbooks annually. If textbooks are published every 5 years, the resulting savings can be invested in education infrastructure. This is especially important in the current context where paper prices have risen sharply. He added: “In many countries, students have to hand over their books to the school for the use of next year students after the end of the school year.” If they damage their books, they will both damage and have a negative effect on their discipline score, which is very important. In fact, the textbook is a trust in the hands of students.”Founder of Gaj International Publishing: The need to create an economic deputy in education”

Referring to another aspect of the benefits of not constantly changing textbooks, Jokar said: “If textbooks do not change over and over again, there will be no need for in-service classes for teachers to teach modified subjects, and this will save on teaching costs and Is raised. On the other hand, teachers will become more proficient in the concepts of textbooks and, as a result, will hold their classes more productively. Regarding the need to increase the quality of education, he said: “Education should be more attractive so that students learn quality.” In our country, quality education is less considered. One of the reasons is the lack of training hours and working hours for teachers. Teachers in Iran do not have long working hours and their living expenses are not covered. They have to turn to other jobs that are sometimes not commensurate with the dignity of the dear teachers. Teachers ‘working hours can be doubled and teachers’ salaries can be quadrupled in return. In this case, they will not be challenged in terms of providing living expenses and will be engaged in educational and research affairs during overtime hours. This will undoubtedly have a great impact on improving the quality of education and training dynamic and active students. The founder of Gaj International Publishing continued: “I know the government is also facing difficulties in securing the current salaries of teachers.” The view of honorable presidents on education must change. They should allocate more funds to this important and infrastructural area. “The government’s use of private sector capacity is one of the keys to success in education,” Jokar said. Privatization of education, in addition to reducing pressure on government budgets and greater efficiency in the use of financial resources and facilities, will increase the quality of education. Private sector activity should not be limited to the establishment of non-governmental schools. In the field of education, research and mental education, students should be able to have a freer field of activity. The ground must be prepared for creativity in this field, which has been captivated by years of traditional and uncreative thinking. He continued: “Contrary to popular belief that non-governmental schools serve the privileged and affluent class of society, most private education and most privatization methods in the world target low-income families.” This issue is spreading day by day in different countries. Governments have only a supervisory and supportive role. For example, the establishment of non-governmental schools with a capacity of admitting 5,000 students with low tuition instead of the establishment of non-governmental schools with a capacity of 150 students and very high tuition.

Those in charge of education must have control over the economy in this area, unfortunately, otherwise, the people will pay the price for this weakness of economic management. This issue is also raised at the macro level in the Ministry of Education. In a 2015 interview, I stated that the establishment of an economic deputy in education is essential. This need is felt more today. More importantly, of course, this post should be run by one of the ministers of good economics in previous governments or one of the heads of the program and budget organization of previous periods, not dear educators.

These measures are necessary if we are to solve the economic problems of education, from teachers’ salaries and livelihoods to the renovation of schools. In the end, he pointed out: The economic problems of education can be solved by expert economists.