Iran’s Minister of Education Alireza Kazemi announced new casualty figures on Monday. The students and teachers killed in the recent war total 346 individuals. Specifically, 279 students and 67 teachers lost their lives. More than 200 pupils and tutors sustained injuries as well. Therefore, students and teachers killed represent a significant loss to Iran’s education system.
Kazemi provided these statistics during a press briefing. He referred to the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran. The conflict caused massive infrastructural damage to educational facilities. About 1,200 educational and administrative units suffered damage. Some camping facilities also faced destruction during the bombings.
Of these damaged structures, 1,000 were educational centers specifically. Twenty schools experienced complete destruction from the bombardments. The US and Israeli forces leveled these schools to the ground. Reconstruction work has already started on these twenty buildings. The schools will become operational, therefore, by next academic year.
Three provinces bore the brunt of the attacks on education. The capital province of Tehran suffered heavy damage. The central province of Markazi also took significant hits. The southern coastal province of Hormozgan faced severe destruction as well. The students and teachers killed in these provinces represent the highest numbers.
The US and Israeli governments launched their war on February 28. The aggression began with the assassination of Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei. Several high-ranking military commanders also died in that initial attack. Iran’s Armed Forces responded with 100 waves of counterattacks. These operations continued for 40 days against US and Israeli assets.
The Iranian strikes targeted military positions across the region. American bases suffered significant damage from these attacks. Israeli military assets also faced destruction. The conflict caused, therefore, substantial losses on all sides. A Pakistani-mediated ceasefire took effect on April 8.
The two-week ceasefire allowed for negotiations in Islamabad. A first round of talks occurred on April 11 and 12. Those discussions failed to produce any agreement. The United States maintained, accordingly, its maximalist demands throughout. Washington also kept its naval blockade against Iranian ports.
Kazemi highlighted that reconstruction efforts are already underway. The government has allocated funds for rebuilding damaged schools. Construction crews are working on the twenty destroyed buildings. Other damaged schools will undergo repairs in phases. The students and teachers killed will receive memorial recognition as well.
The education ministry has provided counseling for surviving students. Many children witnessed the destruction of their schools. Psychological support teams have visited affected communities. Temporary learning spaces have opened in undamaged buildings. The students and teachers killed leave behind, therefore, grieving school communities.
Kazemi called on international organizations to document these damages. UNESCO has received a preliminary report from Iranian authorities. The education minister urged the agency to send assessment teams. He also requested educational supplies for affected regions. The students and teachers killed deserve, after all, international recognition and support.
The war damaged schools across both urban and rural areas. Tehran province lost several educational facilities in the strikes. Markazi province saw damage to elementary and secondary schools. Hormozgan province faced destruction of its coastal educational centers. The students and teachers killed in Hormozgan included many young children.
International human rights groups have condemned attacks on schools. Targeting educational facilities violates international humanitarian law. The Geneva Conventions explicitly protect civilian infrastructure. Schools enjoy special protection during armed conflicts. The US and Israeli strikes on schools violate, therefore, these established rules.
The reconstruction of twenty destroyed schools will cost millions. Iran’s government has committed domestic funds for this work. International aid could accelerate the rebuilding process significantly. The education ministry welcomes, accordingly, any foreign assistance. The students and teachers killed will be remembered at the new schools’ openings.
The coming months will test Iran’s ability to rebuild quickly. Construction must finish before the next school year begins. Temporary classrooms currently serve displaced students. Many children attend classes in shifts due to space shortages. The students and teachers killed have left, therefore, permanent gaps in their communities.