Head of the Iran Chamber of Commerce’s energy commission has proposed shifting schools to remote learning in the autumn to reduce fuel consumption and curb air pollution, as the country grapples with energy supply challenges.
Arash Najafi said on Monday that if schools reopen for in-person classes in late September, daily commutes would involve around 18 million people, driving up both fuel use and pollution.
“One of the commission’s proposals is to hold schools remotely in autumn and use the fuel savings to upgrade educational infrastructure,” Najafi told a commission meeting. “This would allow us to go through the energy crisis without harming the education system.”
He warned that any move toward liquid fuel to supply gas to power plants would cause significant environmental damage.