Criticism of the philosophical foundations of the educated man outlined in the Islamic Republic of Iran's education document

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Background and Objectives: This study critically examines the philosophical foundations underlying the concept of the "educated person" as articulated in the educational framework of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The research aims to evaluate how these foundations—rooted in Islamic ontology, epistemology, and axiology—shape the idealized vision of human development within the national education system.. Methods: Employing a philosophical methodology, the study integrates interpretive analysis, critical inquiry, and deductive reasoning to interrogate the document’s theoretical underpinnings. Findings: The analysis reveals that the philosophical foundations of education in the document are firmly situated within an Islamic religious framework, drawing extensively on Quranic teachings and religious doctrines. The idealized traits of the "educated person" are not confined to anthropological assumptions but are interwoven across ontological, epistemological, and axiological dimensions. However, the study identifies a tension between the document’s aspirational goals—such as cultivating moral integrity, intellectual refinement, and social responsibility—and the practical challenges of implementation. Constraints in pedagogical resources, institutional capacities, and sociocultural realities hinder the realization of these ideals. Conclusion: While the document’s philosophical coherence and emphasis on Islamic values represent notable strengths, the study underscores the need for revisions to address its overly idealistic dimensions. By reconciling theoretical aspirations with pragmatic educational strategies, the framework could better align with the operational realities of Iran’s education system. This critique offers constructive insights for policymakers to refine the document’s philosophical foundations, bolster its strengths, and mitigate gaps during future revisions, thereby enhancing its efficacy in guiding educational practice

Keywords

References

Ahanchian, M. R.; Taherpour, M. S. (2011). Signs of Modernity in the Iranian Education System. Journal of Cultural Engineering, No. 53 and 54, pp. 26-8. . [In Persian]
A group of authors. (2008). Educational Sciences: Its Nature and Scope. Tehran: Samat Publications. [In Persian]
Hakimzadeh, R. (2008). A Study of the Philosophical Foundations of the Global Education Program and Its Comparison with the Philosophical Foundations of the Education System of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Modern Educational Thoughts, Volume 4(79), 104-3 . [In Persian]
Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Education. (1988). Generalities of the Plan for Fundamental Change of the Education System. (Document 1988). Tehran: Ministry of Education. [In Persian]
Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Education. (2004). Generalities of the Plan for the Compilation of the National Education Document (Document 1984). Tehran: Ministry of Education. [In Persian]
Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Education. (2010). Strategic Transformation Document; The Formal and Public Education System of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Horizon of Vision (Holy Mashhad Document) . [In Persian]
Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Education. (2011).General theoretical foundations of fundamental change in the formal and public education system of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Tehran: Ministry of Education. [In Persian]
Dejgahi, S.; Zamiran, M. (2006). A study of educational goals from the perspective of Michel Foucault. New Educational Thoughts, 2(2)187-169. [In Persian]
Rahnama, A. (2005). The characteristics of the ideal human being from the perspective of Islam. Islamic Education Quarterly, 1, 109-124. [In Persian]
Zibakalam Mofard, F. (2005). The philosophical school of educational liberalism and Islam. Tafresh Educational and Research Complex Publications. [In Persian]
Zibakalam Mofard, F. (2008). The philosophy of education and the importance of culture from the perspective of Matthew Arnold. Journal of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Tehran. 5(592), 98-84. [In Persian]
Zibakalam, F. and Heydari, S. (2008). A Study of Avicenna's View on Education (Fundamentals, Principles, Goals, Content and Method). Journal of Psychology and Educational Sciences, 38 (3), 89-113. [In Persian]
Sajjadieh, N.(2014).Comparative Analysis of Official Documents Written in the Philosophy of Education of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Journal of the Fundamentals of Education, 4(1), 29-48. [In Persian]
Sadeqzadeh Ghamsari, A. & et al. (2010). Report on the Integration of Findings of Theoretical Studies of the National Education Document (Theoretical Basis of Strategic Developments in the Country's Educational System); 7th Edition. Tehran: Ministry of Education. [In Persian]
Sohbatloo, A. (2016). Critique of the Philosophical Foundations of Iranian Education on the Educated Man Based on the Viewpoint of Avicenna, PhD Thesis, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Ferdowsi Psychology, Ferdowsi University. [In Persian]
Sohbatloo, A., Ahanchian M., Shabani Varki, B., Sadeqzadeh Ghamsari A. (2018). The Educated Man of Sinai. Quarterly Journal of Education and Training. 34 (4): 81-108. [In Persian]
Zarghami, S.; Sajjadieh, N.; Ghaedi, Y. (2011). Theoretical Model of Philosophy Program for Children in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Tehran: Educational Research Organization. [In Persian]
Mazroughi, R.(2015) Methodological and theoretical critique of the documents of the fundamental transformation of education in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Publisher: Avaye Noor. [In Persian]
Nami, Sh. (2005). A critical review of Richard Steele Peters's view on the philosophy, concept and purpose of education and the educated man and an analysis of the general goals of Islamic education. PhD thesis, University of Tehran, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology. [In Persian]
Journals of Research in Teacher Education Curriculum Studies
Volume 4, Issue 1 - Serial Number 6
August 2024
Pages 124-133

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics