Abstract:
The purpose of the current research was to study the perceptions of teachers and parents about the challenges of teaching Quran in the first grade of elementary school in the academic year 2022-2023. The research approach was qualitative and in the (phenomenological) method. The target group included parents and teachers. 17 teachers and 4 students' parents participated in the research with the purposeful criteria-based sampling method. Sampling continued until the theoretical data saturation stage. The research tool was semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using the seven-step Claysey method. In the initial coding process, a number of 212 live codes were obtained, which were converted into 103 codes in the reduction process, and finally, the identified challenges were classified in the form of 4 main themes and 19 sub-themes. Challenges related to the design and compilation of the Quran book with 8 sub-themes, shortcomings in the implementation of the Quran curriculum with 5 sub-themes, challenges resulting from the nature of the Quran curriculum with 3 sub-themes, socio-cultural and religious challenges with 3 sub-themes were counted. It is possible to introduce the first and second main themes as internal factors and the third and fourth main themes as external factors and beyond the control of the educational system. As a result, teachers and parents put more emphasis on internal challenges and weaknesses, which can affect education and prevent students from achieving a good life, which is the goal of the six fields. On the other hand, the challenges related to the spread of Quranic culture in the society require the participation of other cultural institutions and the synergy of other governmental institutions.