A Newspaper Reports 110,000 First Graders Unable to Attend School Due to Rising Costs

A Tehran-based newspaper has reported on the issue of education in the new school year and the impact of inflation on schooling, stating that 110,000 first graders have been unable to enter the educational system due to rising prices of school supplies and education. The newspaper 'Donya-e-Eqtesad' reported today, Saturday, September 24, that a comparison of the prices of elementary school textbooks shows that prices have increased by about 50% compared to last year. According to the newspaper, the price of stationery has experienced at least a 20% increase compared to last year, and a middle-class family must spend at least 3 million tomans to cover the minimum needs of students, excluding bags, shoes, and uniforms. The newspaper predicts that around 1,495,000 students will register for first grade, with approximately 110,000 fewer students compared to last year, stating that 'the increase in educational costs has prevented these children from enrolling.' The newspaper also interviewed Mohsen Golestani, the head of the Union of Stationery and Engineering Supplies Sellers, who mentioned that 'most raw materials for domestic products are imported. The exchange rate has affected prices, and on the other hand, wages have also increased, and we have seen an increase in bank profits.' Golestani referred to the current hot topic of power outages in industries, stating, 'Another problem we faced in production was power outages. Most stationery production has decreased during the summer due to power outages and the fixed costs and wages have led to increased prices of domestic stationery.' According to this industry official, 'people's purchasing power has decreased, and families are managing their needs instead of buying necessary items all at once, spreading their purchases throughout the year.' Previously, the Deputy Minister of Primary Education announced on September 18 that there were approximately 216,243 out-of-school children in primary education for the 2023-2024 school year, of which only 31,518 have returned to school. Statistics on school dropouts in Iran are highly contradictory, with the Vice Chairman of the Education Commission in the Islamic Consultative Assembly announcing on Thursday, June 25, that the number of out-of-school children in Iran is 911,000, including 400,000 elementary school students. Mohammad Molavi, a member of the Education Commission, also stated in July that 279,000 children have dropped out due to 'financial problems.' Regardless of the statistical contradictions in this area, the important point is the prevalence of dropping out and not entering the educational system in the first grade due to financial difficulties and poverty, which is expanding. A review of official statistics also shows that 70% of dropouts come from income deciles one to five. The million-toman costs of stationery ahead of the new school year have impacted educational inflation. Mandatory in-person schooling in Iran; an expert says the government has not provided facilities to schools. According to the Fire Department, 50% of schools in Tehran are unsafe. A Baluch father attempted self-immolation after his child's registration was rejected in Zahedan; the spokesperson for the Ministry of Education stated, 'We do not deny the issue.' According to the Ministry of Education, 216,000 children have dropped out of school.