Ministry of Education Reports 164,000 Out-of-School Children

The Deputy Minister of Primary Education announced that there are 164,000 out-of-school children in Iran. The state news agency IRNA quoted Rezvan Hakimzadeh as saying, "We match children who reach the age of 6 with enrollment statistics and consider those who are outside the registration system as dropouts." Experts believe that the figures announced by the Ministry of Education only pertain to children who cannot enter the educational system, and that the overall dropout rate is much higher. This group cites statistics from the Research Center of the Parliament, which reported that the number of dropouts in the country in the year 1402 (2023) was 930,000. The Vice Chairman of the Education Commission in the Islamic Consultative Assembly also announced on Thursday, July 4, that the number of out-of-school children in Iran is 911,000, including 400,000 elementary school students. The Deputy Minister of Primary Education had also reported an increase in dropouts at the elementary level on August 19, 2023, stating that the latest statistics showed 160,000 students had dropped out. A review of official statistics indicates that 70% of "dropouts" are from income deciles one to five. In this context, Mohammad Molavi, a member of the Education Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, stated in July of this year that 279,000 children have dropped out due to "financial problems." This trend is also evident in the statistics provided by the Statistical Center, which reported that the number of educational dropouts in the year 1402-1401 was over 929,000, reflecting a 2% increase compared to the previous year. In November 2023, a researcher from the Research Center of the Parliament expressed concern about the situation of children in Iran, stating that 1.5 million children are on the verge of dropping out and that 14 million children live in households that cannot afford a minimum food basket. Over 40% inflation in recent years has led to housing costs consuming 70 to 80% of expenses among low-income deciles, leaving household heads unable to meet other essential needs such as food, healthcare, clothing, and education. "Seven regions of the country" are facing a shortage of schools, and the increase in out-of-school children is attributed to poverty. A teachers' union activist, Morad Sahraei, stated that the quality of education has become monetized. The reduction in the education budget coincides with the dropout of over 900,000 children from education. More than 200,000 students have dropped out this year, and a Ministry of Education official reported that 216,000 first-cycle secondary students have dropped out. 1.5 million children are on the verge of dropping out; 14 million children lack adequate food.