Unlawful Fees in Iran’s Public Schools: Millions of Children Denied Access to Education

In Iran, despite constitutional guarantees for free education, a troubling reality unfolds as parents face the harsh truth of having to pay bribes for their children’s enrollment. This alarming situation highlights how class-based schooling is deepening inequality in the nation.

Numerous parents have voiced their frustrations, sharing harrowing experiences that reflect the widespread corruption within the educational system. Here are some poignant testimonies:

• “If you want us to register your child, you have to pay 9 million tomans because you are out of bounds.”
• “They told me if I am within the limit, I must pay 5 million tomans, but if I am outside, 10 million.”
• “There is only one public school in the entire 6th district of Tehran. They say, ‘We don’t have room,’ and then tell us to go to a private school—as if everyone has 150 million tomans a year.”

These quotes, sourced from Iranian parents and circulated through domestic media and social networks, shed light on the alarming trend of schools demanding illegal fees for enrollment. In some cases, parents are coerced into paying up to 20 million tomans just to secure a spot for their child in a public school.

Constitutional Rights Trampled

Article 30 of the Iranian constitution explicitly mandates: “The government is obligated to provide free educational facilities for the entire nation until the end of secondary school and to expand higher education facilities free of charge to the extent of the country’s self-sufficiency.” However, the reality on the ground starkly contrasts with this constitutional promise.

While education officials and parliament members publicly assert that charging fees at public schools is illegal, the reality remains grim as parents continue to face demands for money. Although officials encourage families to report such violations, the practice of demanding bribes is widespread, highlighting a significant disconnect between official rhetoric and the lived experiences of families.

Two-Tier Education System

The current educational landscape in Iran reflects a deeply unequal, class-based system. Wealthy families are able to send their children to well-funded non-profit or private schools, while poorer families are left struggling with under-resourced public schools that lack essential facilities, qualified staff, and quality teaching.

This dual education system has resulted in a glaring disparity in student outcomes. Recent data from university entrance exams shows that not a single top-ranking student emerged from a public school. Among the top 29 students nationwide:

• 22 attended SAMPAD (elite schools for the gifted).
• Four were from private institutions.
• The remaining students came from specialized government-supported schools.
• None hailed from ordinary public schools.

Millions of Children Left Behind

Current official statistics reveal that nearly one million Iranian children were out of school during the 2023–2024 academic year. However, census data suggests that the reality may be closer to four million, predominantly from impoverished families in marginalized regions.

It’s important to note that dropping out of school is not solely due to financial constraints. Many students opt to leave school out of frustration with the poor quality of public education, ultimately seeking low-paying jobs to support themselves.

Justice in Education, a Forgotten Principle

Education is widely regarded as the great equalizer—an institution designed to mitigate inequality and promote equal opportunity for all. This is echoed in international law, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which recognizes free education as a fundamental right.

Yet, in Iran, this right is being systematically stripped away. The government’s failure to uphold its constitutional obligations has exacerbated class divisions, leaving millions of children without access to quality education. The outcome is a society where opportunities are dictated not by merit or effort, but by wealth and access to resources.

As the concept of educational justice fades, so does social justice, further entrenching inequality and jeopardizing the future of an entire generation. It is imperative for the Iranian government to address these systemic issues and work towards fulfilling its constitutional mandate to provide free education for all children, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background.