Iran’s Literacy Rate A Tale of Disparity

According to recent statistics, Iran has an estimated 12% illiteracy rate, meaning that 12 out of every 100 Iranians are unable to read or write. 

The database EcoIran, which provides information and analysis on various topics, has reported that there is a negative correlation between income level and illiteracy rate in the country’s provinces. In other words, areas with higher incomes tend to have lower illiteracy rates.

The report by EcoIran, titled “Empty pockets do not know literacy,” reveals a significant gap in literacy rates between different provinces. For instance, the illiteracy rate in Kurdistan province is about three times higher than in Tehran province. 

Moreover, the report indicates that there is a difference of around 90 million tomans in income between the highest-income province and the lowest-income province in Iran.

In Tehran province, the average annual income of an urban family is around 160 million tomans, while in Kerman province, it is about 70 million tomans. The illiteracy rate in Tehran is close to 6.6 percent, with 7 out of every 100 residents being illiterate. In contrast, 18% of the citizens of Kurdistan province are illiterate, which is three times the rate in Tehran. Additionally, 10 other provinces have reported more than 15% illiteracy.

Historically, various institutions in Iran have been actively involved in adult literacy efforts since 1936. The Akaber Education Organization operated between 1936 and 1941, followed by the Elderly Education Organization until 1956, and subsequently, the Adult Education Organization until 1964. 

The National Committee for the Global Struggle with Illiteracy took over the responsibility in 1977 until 1979 when the National Literacy Jihad Organization assumed control. And this plan to eradicate illiteracy was halted shortly after.

Since then, the Literacy Movement Organization has taken the responsibility to eradicate illiteracy in Iran. Despite this, there are around 8.795 million absolutely illiterate people in the country, according to the 2016 census and statistics from Iran’s Statistics Center.

Critics argue that this number indicates the failure of Literacy Movement plans in Iran. Hassan Mousavi Chalak, the head of Iran’s Social Workers Association, stated that after 44 years, the country still has 9 million absolutely illiterate individuals, which is a clear sign of the ineffectiveness of the literacy movement.

In response to this issue, the 7th Development Program of the regime has approved the liquidation of the current form of the Literacy Movement, and its missions have been assigned to the primary deputy of education. 

However, some experts believe that the education system of the regime is inefficient, and such an important activity is beyond its capacity.

Alireza Abdi, head of the Literacy Movement Organization, said that there are approximately 4 million illiterate and low-literate people in the age group of 10-49 years in the country. Moreover, he stated that in the age group of six years and older, there are currently around 7.4 million absolute illiterate people. 

Abdi also mentioned that in the age group of 10-49 years, 1.707 million people are completely illiterate, and around 2.5 million people are new literates, who have studied up to the second or third grade of elementary school but have not reached the sixth grade.

The literacy process in Iran, especially among children and teenagers, is facing a serious threat from the intensification of poverty. The Statistics Center of the regime announced in October that at least 556,000 Iranian teenagers were forced to drop out of school before entering high school due to poverty and deprivation. 

Ali Asghar Fani, the former Minister of Education, stated that the number of dropouts in Iran is around 930,000 and that they constitute the illiterate people of the future.

The regime has not been successful in eradicating illiteracy in Iran, especially in deprived areas. Girls make up the majority of children who have left school and dropped out throughout Iran. 

In provinces such as Sistan and Baluchistan, students face other deprivations, including low-quality education, and the number of students who succeed in continuing their education in universities is much less than in other provinces.

In recent years, teachers of the Literacy Movement Organization have protested against their living conditions by holding protest rallies.