A recent article in the Iranian state-run newspaper Hamdeli has shed light on a growing crisis in Iran’s education system and job market. Titled “40% of senior students enter university due to unemployment, normalizing unusual problems,” the piece investigates the dire situation facing graduates in the country.
The employment status of graduates has long been a concern for labor activists and economists in Iran. A shocking survey reveals that 90% of university graduates are working in jobs unrelated to their field of study. This statistic comes amid reports of a significant decrease in male participation in university entrance exams, raising critical questions about the value and relevance of higher education in Iran.
Morteza Ofogeh, an economist and faculty member at Chamran Ahvaz University, describes the situation as “not at all normal.” He laments, “It is unfortunate to read reports of many young people wasting at least four years of their precious lives. This waste is detrimental not only to themselves but to the entire country.”
Ofogeh criticizes the rapid and unplanned proliferation of universities across Iran, many of which he believes are unnecessary. These institutions, he argues, “fill the minds of young people with outdated and useless material,” effectively wasting four years of the country’s most valuable human capital.
The disconnect between education and employment opportunities is further highlighted by a statement from a member of the Parliament’s Program and Budget Commission, who suggested that ride-sharing apps like Snap and Tapsi have eliminated unemployment. This oversimplification of the job market underscores the gap between policymakers’ perceptions and the realities faced by educated youth.
The situation is equally dire for high school graduates. Mohsen Zarei, head of the Center for Measuring and Evaluating the Quality of Education, reported alarmingly low average grade points across various fields of study in the twelfth grade. Meanwhile, Mohammad Habibi, a teacher union activist, announced that over 1.19 million students have dropped out of school, with the education sector facing a shortage of more than 200,000 teaching staff.
Critics argue that the government’s approach of expanding universities serves more to delay youth unemployment rather than address it meaningfully. About 40% of master’s degree students reportedly re-enter university due to unemployment after completing their bachelor’s degree, perpetuating a cycle of academic pursuits disconnected from job market realities.
The Coordinating Council of Trade Union Organizations of Iranian Cultivators has also raised concerns about the quality of education, warning against the use of mullahs instead of qualified teachers in schools, which they view as a regressive step.
This multifaceted crisis calls for a comprehensive reevaluation of Iran’s education system and its alignment with the job market. As it stands, the mismatch between academic qualifications and employment opportunities is not only wasting the potential of Iran’s youth, but also hindering the country’s overall development and progress.
