CODIR reports, 18 February 2026-  

Iranian Teachers’ Union Reports Successful Nationwide School Strikes Despite Government Pressure

The Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations (CCITTA) reported successful school strikes on Wednesday morning. The Council had previously issued a call to action, urging teachers, students, and parents to boycott classes on Wednesday in protest against the killing of over 230 students and the January crackdowns.

In response to the Council’s call—intended to honor the memory of fallen students and teachers and to protest the “empty benches” left in their wake—a massive influx of messages and reports from students and educators across the country has reached the Council.

These strikes occurred despite intense pressure from the Ministry of Education and regional departments. Since Monday, February 16, school principals have reportedly been pressured to threaten students and teachers in an attempt to prevent the school closures and suppress the protest movement.

On Tuesday, the Coordinating Council highlighted messages of support, stating: “These messages clearly demonstrate the emergence of an unprecedented solidarity and cohesion within the education sector—a conscious, deep-rooted unity that promises a powerful and widespread nationwide strike tomorrow.”

What is unfolding in schools today is not merely a labor dispute; it is a collective response to shared suffering and a cry against oblivion. This outcry, marked by the closure of classrooms and the deliberate vacancy of school benches, is becoming a symbol of civic advocacy and resistance.

The following reports have been published on the Council’s Telegram channel:

• Sanandaj: Students at Shahid Beheshti 2 High School observed a full strike today, with no students attending the premises.
• Saqqez: School attendance was significantly lower today compared to previous days.

Widespread Absenteeism and Administrative Pressure

In Kerman, the Farzanegan Secondary School (Second Cycle) was reportedly empty due to student-led organizing. In response, school administrators sent text messages to all parents demanding justification for “unexcused absences” by Saturday, warning that students would be barred from classes otherwise.

Coordinated Strikes in Sanandaj and Alborz At the Farzanegan Secondary School (District 2) in Sanandaj, a fully coordinated strike took place with parental support; not a single student attended. Similarly, in Eshtehard, Alborz Province, the entirety of the 12th-grade class and a significant majority of 10th and 11th graders at the Shohada-ye Danesh-Amuz High School (the area’s only boys’ secondary school) boycotted classes. Several faculty members from other regional schools also joined the walkout.

Systematic Surveillance and Security Interventions Reports indicate that security agencies and aligned school managements attempted to neutralize this civil movement days in advance through “inspection lists” and systematic tracking of absences. Despite these levers of pressure, the collective will for “seeking justice” (Dadkhahi) prevailed. In Sanandaj, secondary students continued to refuse attendance despite ongoing intimidation.

Regional Shutdowns Across the Country Secondary schools in several cities have effectively ceased operations due to the total absence of students, including:

• Izeh (Khuzestan Province)
• Javanrud (Kersmanshah Province)
• Bandar Abbas (Hormozgan Province)

Threats and Data Collection in Gorgan and Anzali In Gorgan, significant numbers of students and secondary teachers did not attend. Consequently, the Security Department (Herasat) of the Gorgan Education Office pressured school principals to provide complete lists of all absent students and teachers.

Surveillance and Intimidation in Bandar Anzali

According to reports received by the Council’s media outlets on Wednesday morning, February 18, a large number of 12th-grade students in Bandar Anzali boycotted their classes. In response, the local Education Security Department (Herasat) has ordered educational deputies to submit a comprehensive list of all absent students and teachers to the central office.

Classroom Closures in Central Tehran In Tehran (Districts 10, 11, and 12), student attendance in secondary schools was reported as minimal, effectively leading to school closures. In one specific instance in District 10, Herasat officials reportedly entered a school and pressured the administration to call parents and force students to attend. Despite these coercive measures, students continued to refuse attendance.

Widespread Shutdowns in Tehran Province As of Wednesday morning, secondary schools in the following cities within Tehran Province have effectively shut down due to the total absence of students:

• Shahr-e-Rey
• Baharestan
• Pakdasht
• Varamin
• Islamshahr

Solidarity in Andisheh New Town Students in Phases 1, 2, and 3 of Andisheh New Town joined the Coordinating Council’s call to action. Their refusal to attend school was reported as a move to honor and commemorate the students who lost their lives in the recent protests.