High Dropout Rate of Girls in Iran; About One-Third of Female Students Do Not Attend High School

The Coordination Council of Teachers' Trade Unions in Iran reported on Tuesday via their Telegram channel that approximately one-third of female students in Iran do not attend high school, highlighting the high dropout rate among girls. Citing sociologist Shahla Kazemi-Pour, the council noted that around 30% of girls in Iran drop out as soon as they reach high school age for various reasons. She stated that '200,000 girls aged 15 to 19 get married annually' and mentioned that marriage, cultural issues, or the inaccessibility of schools are reasons for the decline in educational coverage among girls, leading those without diplomas to typically become 'housewives' while those with degrees above a bachelor's complain about unemployment. Statistics released by the Statistical Center of Iran indicate that nearly 930,000 students dropped out in the 2022-2023 academic year across three educational levels: primary, middle, and high school. Experts believe that economic issues are the primary factor in dropout rates, with the high dropout rate among boys in secondary education also attributed to early entry into the job market. Among girls, 'marriage under 18' is cited as one of the dropout factors. Iranian media reported late last March that student dropouts and poverty have a significant correlation, with dropout rates increasing across all educational levels in the 2022-2023 academic year. Reactions to the Ministry of Education's complaint against the series 'Tehran Snake': it is derogatory and media propaganda. Teachers held protest gatherings in at least 10 cities in Iran despite threats and government promises. A sociologist noted that the government has included 'female school principals' in the statistics of women's participation in management. More than 200,000 students have dropped out this year.