Transforming the University Entrance Testing System

Sara Esfahani, Rooz Online:

The cabinet of president Ahmadinejad has embarked on a policy of fundamentally altering the national organization that selects applicants to national universities as an effort to control student life and access to higher education. The first step in the process came a few days ago when it was announced that the head of the National Testing Organization would be changed. The new person, who goes by the name of Fazaeli, is a former Passdaran Revolutionary Guards Corps commander, who used to be the chancellor of Imam Hossein University belonging to the Passdaran. He is considered a trusted ally of hardline politicians who now control the levers of power in Tehran. READ MORE

Observers note that this appointment is in line with the covert decision to give the Passdaran Revolutionary Guards Corps more say and role in the management of the country, as requested by the force commanders during their visit with the president last month. Other recent measures parallel to this change are the appointments of chancellors for Tehran and other universities who had earlier belonged to the Passdaran Revolutionary Guards Corps or other intelligence related posts.

Pro-government newspapers in Iran began publishing reports critical of the National Testing Organization about two weeks ago, and especially of its director Dr Rahimi, preparing the public for the upcoming change. The premise for the criticism was the apparent violations that are said to have taken place at last years national examinations. But observers close to university issues note that mere personality changes alone would address the violations and other issues plaguing the entrance examinations system.