In many countries, the start of the school year is a symbol of hope and opportunity. However, in Iran, where schools traditionally reopen on the first of the month of Mehr (September 22), it has become a reminder of the deepening crisis in the country’s education system. Plagued by chronic underfunding, severe inequality, decaying infrastructure, and a lack of quality instruction, the education sector reflects the broader challenges facing the nation under its current regime.
One of the most significant issues is the drastic shortage of funding. In 2024, the education budget amounted to 278 trillion tomans, representing just 9.83% of the national budget, a drop from 10.53% in 2023. This decline, according to Mohammad Sadegh Abdollahi from the Research Center of the Parliament, has left many schools severely under-resourced. With only $600 spent annually per student, Iran’s investment in education falls far below the global average of $9,313, as reported by the Student News Network (SNN) on November 7, 2020. This stark contrast highlights the government’s neglect, leaving schools, especially in rural areas, lacking basic resources like textbooks, proper classrooms, and safe facilities.
The gap between public and private schools has widened significantly. In the 2024 university entrance exams, students from special talent and private schools dominated the rankings. Out of the top 40 scorers, 29 came from special talent schools, 9 from private schools, and only 1 from a regular public school. According to Mizan Online (August 6, 2022), while these elite institutions educate only 3% of students, they account for 95% of top exam scores, further marginalizing the 85% of students attending public schools.
Message for the New Academic Year 2024-2025
The most profound and noble choice of this inquisitive and rebellious generation remains the pursuit of freedom
At the start of this academic year, as in every year of our resistance, the first lesson is the lesson of freedom#Iran… pic.twitter.com/0lpijH6Iq6— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) September 21, 2024
On August 7, 2023, a state-run Etemad Online article shed light on the growing inequality in Iran’s education system, particularly the rise of private schools at the expense of public education. While the Iranian constitution mandates free education for all citizens until the end of high school, private and non-profit schools have proliferated, now accounting for around 16% of all schools in the country. This trend has exacerbated social inequalities, as these private schools offer significantly better resources and opportunities compared to underfunded public schools.
The article pointed out that, in contrast to countries like the UK and the US—where private schooling has declined—Iran has seen a rise in private institutions, creating a system that perpetuates social divisions rather than reducing them. The result is an education system that mirrors and intensifies broader societal inequalities, where the wealthiest students have access to the best opportunities, leaving others behind.
Teacher shortages and low salaries have also played a critical role in deteriorating education quality. The education system currently faces a shortage of nearly 200,000 teachers, with many educators struggling with inadequate pay and poor working conditions. According to the SNN, the average annual salary for Iranian teachers is less than $2,000, far below the international average, further demoralizing the workforce and worsening the crisis.
Watch and judge how #Iran's education system performs compared to #Japan's. pic.twitter.com/rjojOE8s1Q
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) October 25, 2023
Infrastructural decay is another pressing concern. Thousands of classrooms across Iran, particularly in rural areas, are housed in makeshift structures such as mud huts, tents, and temporary shelters. These inadequate conditions have posed significant safety hazards, with many schools lacking basic heating, cooling, and sanitation facilities.
Families, left to fill the gaps, are shouldering a growing financial burden. With the education system unable to provide essential materials and resources, many parents are forced to pay for private tutoring, extra books, and school supplies. This has exacerbated the educational divide, with wealthier families able to afford supplemental education while poorer students are left behind.
As Iran’s newest generation begins the school year, their first lesson is one of stark inequality, where access to quality education is largely determined by wealth and privilege. The widening gap between public and private schools reflects a deeper societal divide, one that the regime seems unwilling to address. Yet, as this inequality continues to fester, the clerical dictatorship may soon be forced to confront the social consequences of neglecting its youth. With growing dissatisfaction and mounting frustration, Iran’s rulers may learn the hard way that an education system built on inequality will only nurture resistance and revolt.
