The Iranian Constitution guarantees free education, but registration fees and mandatory “donations” at both private and public schools have made it impossible for many families to send their children to school.
Annual fees at private schools range from 200 to 300 million toman, while state schools also require “mandatory contributions” for enrollment.
The minimum cost of education for one child is 10 million toman, which is equivalent to approximately one month’s income for a minimum wage worker.
Rising school expenses are not limited to tuition fees. Transportation costs have increased by 36.8 percent compared to last year, reaching 30-40 million toman. In Tehran’s affluent areas, these figures rival registration fees.
Stationery, uniform, and meal expenses are also straining family budgets: The simplest stationery set costs 3-4 million toman, while daily snacks amount to 100-150 thousand toman per child.
Experts emphasize that education is increasingly becoming a “class privilege,” with children from poor families being left out of the system.
While school dropouts are rapidly increasing in poor regions, it is stated that girls are being directed toward early marriage and boys toward low-paying jobs.
Although Article 30 of the Iranian Constitution guarantees free education, the reality is quite different. Education has ceased to be a right and has become a privilege accessible only to those who can afford it. This situation threatens not only families’ livelihoods but also the country’s future.