He earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from the Sharif University of Technology. Following his bachelors, he enrolled in the graduate program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As a professor, he trained and mentored generations of students in applied mathematics and engineering. His colleagues often described him as disciplined, polite, and detail-oriented, qualities that translated into his later work in government planning and policy design. Even after entering politics, Najafi maintained close ties with academic community and often advocated for evidence-based policymaking and the integration of modern technology in education.
Najafi was aligned with reformist political movement, which emerged prominently in the late 1990s under President Mohammad Khatami. As Minister of Education, he focused on improving teaching quality, revising curricula, and promoting equal access to education. His policies aimed to make education system more adaptable to global standards, emphasizing science and technology.
