Illegal Fees Charged to Afghan Children for Education in Iranian Public Schools

While Afghan citizens constitute the largest migrant community in Iran, reports indicate that some public schools are demanding "illegal fees" for the enrollment of Afghan children. The website "Didban Iran" cites a social worker from the "Children's Aid Association" reporting that public schools are receiving bribes ranging from 500,000 to 1,000,000 tomans for enrolling Afghan children. Hamid Formand, a children's rights activist, stated in an interview with Voice of America that the lack of protective measures and sustainable mechanisms from the Iranian government regarding migrants and refugees is the reason for the deprivation of Afghan migrants from social rights, including the right to education. According to information published in the Integrated Student System (Sida) of the Ministry of Education, the number of non-Iranian students registered in Iranian schools for the academic year 1401-1402 is approximately 614,200. Based on the statistics recorded in this educational system, over 93% of non-Iranian students, equivalent to 574,000, are Afghan children. Didban Iran reported, without mentioning the identity of the social worker from the "Children's Aid Association", that schools usually prioritize Iranian children for enrollment. Meanwhile, according to Hamid Formand, the children's rights activist, the law on the protection of children and adolescents emphasizes equal and non-discriminatory treatment of all children residing in Iran. Recently, the "Diyaran" association, which works with migrants in Iran, mentioned among the challenges of educating migrant children the "arbitrary enforcement of laws in schools and lack of adequate supervision." Although adverse economic conditions and the pressure of living costs ultimately push some migrant children into the black labor market. According to Hamid Formand, Afghan migrant children, even if they enter the Iranian educational system, are forced to work to cover living expenses. Currently, there are no statistics on the number of Afghan migrant children who have dropped out of school. Meanwhile, the research association "Diyaran" cited social deprivation as one of the consequences of educational dropout among migrants in Iran, leading to delinquency. Ali Hazara: The main difference between Iranian and Afghan working children is the lack of a future perspective. Taliban: 270,000 Afghan migrants have left Iran in the past six months, either forcibly or voluntarily. Amnesty International report: Shooting and mistreatment of Afghan citizens by Iran and Turkey. UN Security Council: Denial of Afghan girls' right to education is a violation of human rights. Worsening poverty in Afghanistan; most families spent Ramadan with "dry bread." In protest against the "harassment of Afghan migrants," the consulate of the Islamic Republic in Herat was set on fire.