Teachers in non-government schools must now undergo a six-month selection period, up from the standard 15 days.

The announcement, made by Ahmad Mahmoudzadeh, an official at the Ministry of Education, came on the back of orders of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei blaming “seditions, riots and creating insecurity in the streets” after schools and universities have been at the forefront of protests since September.

Mahmoudzadeh said: “After passing a 60-hour course, teachers must attend 60 hours of training related to educational knowledge, as well as general and professional competence within five years. Every year, after passing all these courses, they can get a professional competence card.”

Khamenei had previously demanded that the authorities make sure the "selection rules" of teachers "do not weaken."