Continued Criticism of Million-Toman Tuition Fees at Private Schools; Ham-Mihan Newspaper: Officials' Children Do Not Attend Public Schools

An Iranian newspaper has examined the issue of school tuition and educational quality, stating that almost none of the children of officials from the level of director general and above attend public schools. The 'Ham-Mihan' newspaper criticized the 21% increase in the educational budget compared to last year, noting that this is while the inflation rate last year was over 47%. The article indicates discrimination in budgeting and shows that the government does not adequately address education issues, as the educational budget has decreased by about 25% in real terms, while the total government budget has increased more than inflation. The editorial attributes the prevailing social atmosphere as a factor for 6% of students being out of education and mentions a 'severe' decline in the quality of education in Iran based on international tests. It states that the low educational quality is the reason for people's preference to enroll their children in private schools, emphasizing that 'it can almost be confidently stated that nearly all former and current officials from the level of director general and even above enroll their children in these schools, ensuring their academic future.' In recent months, school tuition has been one of the main challenges for families, and Iranian media have previously reported on the burden of tuition fees, citing parents who say the cost pressures are challenging. Reports indicate that inflation in Iran has also affected education, with the 'Jam-e Jam' newspaper, affiliated with the state broadcasting organization, reporting a tuition fee of 72 million tomans for tenth-grade students in downtown Tehran. This newspaper had emphasized in a report in June that the increase in school fees is such that it is unclear whether to call it an explosion, exorbitant inflation, school arbitrariness, or a chaotic situation. Article 3 of the Islamic Republic's Constitution mandates the government to utilize all its resources for free education for all at all levels. Article 30 of the Constitution explicitly states, 'The government is obliged to provide free educational facilities for all citizens until the end of secondary education and to expand higher education facilities to the extent of the country's self-sufficiency for free.' The essence of this article is also reiterated in Article 104 of the Citizen's Rights Charter, which was drafted and published during Hassan Rouhani's presidency. Nevertheless, every year, various reports emerge regarding the collection of fees from citizens under different pretexts for enrollment or educational programs, with million-toman tuition fees at private schools being a hot topic in many media outlets in recent months. The parliament's involvement in addressing 'astronomical' tuition fees in schools; the 'organization' plan is on the agenda. An official from the Ministry of Science: We attract twice as many foreign students from Islamic countries; a look at the Al-Mustafa Society. The wealthy in the best universities; class differences have reached the entrance exam. Teaching by male teachers in all girls' high schools in Iran has been banned.