Pathology of Elementary Teacher Recruitment Process in Iranian Education

The current study aims to look into the merits and demerits of elementary teacher recruitment process in Iranian Education. To achieve this purpose, phenomenology approach was utilized. The population included all formally employed teachers as well as elementary education experts. The sample of study entailed 22 persons selected via purposive sampling method (considering the saturation point). They were interviewed using a semi-structured interview. The interviews were first recorded and transcribed and then analyzed based on the seven-stage Colaizzi method. The study finally led to identification of 65 drawbacks within 15 conceptual units in force-finding, selection, and appointment dimensions. The most important drawbacks in each of these dimensions were: Lack of comprehension of job nature, occupational qualification weakness, non-technical procedures, weakness in information giving, weakness in teachers’ social rank, , technical and skill weaknesses, selective weaknesses, psychological contrasts, inattention to research activities, inattention to welfare and livelihood facilities, weakness in employing modern technologies, Weakness in pinpointing policies, weakness in teachers’ organization, weakness in motivational factors, weakness in maintaining teachers, weakness in assessment and feedback. Finally, remedial strategies were suggested based on the related literature and Iranian realities one of which was changing the rules and policies regarding workforce recruitment.