Iran’s educational system is grappling with a profound crisis, as revealed by recent statements and reports from officials and experts. According to Rezvan Hakimzadeh, Deputy for Primary Education at the Ministry of Education, 40% of Iranian students face learning disabilities that significantly reduce their chances of academic and professional success. This alarming statistic, Hakimzadeh argues, is at odds with the principles of educational justice and the equitable distribution of learning opportunities.
Learning Poverty: A Fundamental Barrier
In an interview with the Tasnim news agency, Hakimzadeh described “learning poverty” as a condition where students, despite attending school, fail to acquire essential literacy skills such as reading, writing, arithmetic, and effective communication. She emphasized that primary education lays the foundation for future academic success, noting that students who master basic literacy in the first three years perform better academically in later years. However, many students, particularly those in underprivileged and bilingual regions, struggle with these foundational skills, halting their educational progress.
A Broader Pattern of Educational Decline
This is not the first warning about declining educational outcomes in Iran. Gholamali Afrooz, a professor at Tehran University, recently reported that only 70% of students who enter primary school manage to graduate from high school. The remaining 30% fail to obtain a diploma and are forced into the labor market prematurely.
Additionally, Ham Mihan newspaper highlighted the particularly dire conditions in provinces like Sistan-Baluchistan, where up to 25% of sixth- and seventh-grade students are illiterate. Mohsen Zarei, head of the Center for Measuring and Evaluating the Quality of Education, disclosed that the average grade point average for high school students in core subjects like mathematics, physics, and humanities is a dismal 10.89 out of 20.
Infrastructure Deficiencies and Overcrowded Classrooms
The educational crisis is exacerbated by inadequate infrastructure. Minister of Education Alireza Kazemi recently acknowledged that Iran’s public schools face capacity constraints, with class sizes swelling to 35 or 40 students due to insufficient development of school facilities. This overcrowding has directly impacted the quality of education.
Kazemi also revealed that 4,000 schools are housed in makeshift stone cottages, and 1,700 operate out of trailers. In some areas, the educational space per student is less than three square meters—far below the global standard of five square meters. Meanwhile, over 70,000 classrooms require urgent retrofitting, and 30,000 need complete reconstruction.
The Forgotten Role of Urban Planning
Poor urban planning has worsened the crisis. In densely populated provinces like Tehran, Alborz, and Razavi Khorasan, rapid and unregulated construction has ignored educational needs. For instance, Article 18 of the Education Council Law mandates the establishment of a 12-class school for every 200 residential units, but this law has been disregarded in many Mehr housing projects.
Semnan province offers a striking example: despite the construction of 20,000 residential units, the lack of schools is palpable, with 30% of its existing schools deemed unfit for use.
The Rising Cost of Education
The financial burden on families has also increased dramatically. While the average cost of school supplies (excluding books and uniforms) was previously around 2 million tomans per child, soaring inflation has rendered these costs untenable. Today, buying just 10 notebooks can cost 1 million tomans. Many families can no longer afford even a month’s worth of school supplies, let alone a full year’s.
A Stark Contrast with Developed Nations
Iran’s educational shortcomings stand in sharp contrast to global standards. In countries like Finland, the per capita educational space reaches 12 square meters per student, and schools are equipped with modern technologies like smart boards, educational tablets, and high-speed internet. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 90% of schools in these nations benefit from digital resources and reliable internet access.
In Iran, however, over 40% of rural students lack basic facilities such as computers or internet access. Libraries and scientific laboratories are scarce and often underutilized, further undermining students’ ability to compete in a globalized world.
Psychological and Counseling Services: Another Gap
Beyond infrastructure and resources, Iranian schools lack sufficient psychological and counseling services to address students’ mental health and emotional well-being. This neglect reflects broader systemic failures to invest in the future and meet the comprehensive needs of students.
A Call to Action
The ongoing educational crisis in Iran demands immediate and sustained action. From addressing infrastructure deficiencies and enforcing urban planning laws to improving teaching quality and providing equitable access to resources, there is an urgent need for reform. Without significant investment and policy changes, the future of millions of Iranian students—and the country itself—remains at risk.
