On International Literacy Day, celebrated each year on September 8th, the world comes together to recognize achievements in literacy and to address persistent challenges. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals emphasize universal access to quality education, with particular attention to literacy and numeracy. Unfortunately, in Iran, basic literacy remains an elusive goal for many, especially women and girls.
The former Minister of Education in Ebrahim Raisi’s government suggests that there are around “9 million absolute illiterates” in Iran today, constituting over 10% of the population. Furthermore, the former Minister highlights a significant number of children deprived of education, with over 160,000 children currently lacking access to education across three levels.
In a television program Yousef Norouzi, the former Minister of Education, said, “Regarding the number of illiterate individuals, according to the 2016 census and statistics announced by the Statistical Center of Iran, we have 8,795,000 illiterate people in Iran.”
The former Minister of Education added that this statistic represents the number of illiterates based on self-declaration by individuals aged six and above who are “absolutely illiterate and cannot read or write.”
Yousef Norouzi mentioned the difference in educational goals between Iran and other countries and said that currently, “the educational goal in Iran is set from ages 6 to 49, while the world’s educational goal is lifelong education.”
According to Norouzi, the government has not done anything to educate people aged 49 and above, while according to research, “for every 10 percent increase in literacy, two percent is added to the Gross Domestic Product.”
Contradictory official statements
According to the World Bank’s assessment, there are approximately 11.6 million absolutely illiterate individuals in Iran today, a stark reminder of the challenges that persist despite progress.
UNESCO’s statistics highlight another dimension of the issue. Approximately 2% of Iranians under the age of 24 continue to suffer from absolute illiteracy. In contrast, neighboring countries like Turkey and Iran’s northern neighbors, such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Turkmenistan, boast almost zero absolute illiteracy among their youth.
Various Iranian officials offer contradictory estimates of the extent of illiteracy in the country. In March 2018, Ali Baqerzadeh, the head of Iran’s Literacy Movement Organization, stated that there were 8.8 million absolute illiterates in Iran, along with an additional 11 million semi-illiterate individuals. (The state-run Tabnak.ir, October 6, 2018)
Ironically, under the mullahs’ rule, two-thirds of the illiterate population are women.
The situation must have worsened –not improved—due to the country’s economic crisis and rampant poverty. The clerical regime’s policies are the primary contributor to the grim state of literacy in Iran.
Opposition to Global Education Initiatives
The clerical regime’s leadership, including the mullahs’ Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has consistently opposed global education initiatives, including the UN 2030 Education Plan. Khamenei’s resistance stems from his belief that these initiatives are tools of domineering powers seeking to control nations. Such opposition directly contradicts the goals of gender equality and equal opportunities outlined in these global education plans.
On multiple occasions, Khamenei has strongly emphasized the encouragement of traditional roles for women, focusing on their roles in childbearing and household responsibilities.
The vehement opposition from the clerical regime and its supreme leader to the Education 2003 Framework for Action and the Agenda 2030 stems from their concern that these documents mandate all state parties to uphold gender equality and provide equal opportunities to individuals, including women and girls. This directly challenges the core principles of Iran’s ruling fundamentalist regime.
The Iranian economy’s dire state, marked by currency devaluation, inflation, and a halt in oil revenues, has led to pervasive poverty. Budget cuts in rural schools, tuition fees, and the general economic hardship faced by families are driving children out of school. Other factors, such as mixed-gender high school classes, early marriages, and families relying on girls to supplement their income, also hinder girls’ education.
Education in Iran: Not Mandatory, Not Free
While education is mandatory and free for children aged 6 to 14 in most countries worldwide, this is not the case in Iran. Despite Iran’s Constitution obligating the government to provide free elementary and high school education for all citizens, Ali Bagherzadeh, the head of Iran’s Literacy Movement Organization, admitted that education is not mandatory in Iran. This raises concerns about access to education, particularly for marginalized communities. (The state-run Salamatnews.com, April 25, 2018)
Gender Disparities
One glaring issue in Iran’s education system is the gender gap. The literacy rate among women in Iran lags behind that of men. According to a member of the parliamentary social commission, Iran’s literacy rate for women stands at 82.5%, while neighboring countries like the UAE, Jordan, and Turkey boast significantly higher rates. This disparity is attributed to the failure of educational advancements that prioritize gender equality. (The state-run Tabnak.ir, October 6, 2018)
A Silent Crisis of Illiteracy’s Return
While many countries worldwide have successfully eradicated illiteracy, Iran is witnessing a troubling resurgence. Mohammadreza Mahboubfar notes that illiteracy, once on the decline, has seen a return, reaching a rate of 47%. This silent crisis is correlated with increased social harm, poverty, and unemployment, illustrating the far-reaching consequences of a faltering education system. (The state-run farhangesadid.ir, December 30, 2019)
Children Deprived of Education
Access to education for Iranian children remains a concern, with millions left out of the education system. Conflicting reports estimate that between 2 to 4 million students are not attending school. Factors contributing to this include child labor, street children, school dropouts, and children without guardians. This underlines the need for urgent action to ensure every child’s right to education.
Alarming Dropout Rates
A concerning trend is the high dropout rate among students in Iran, particularly girls. Poverty, lack of social support, and the absence of free and mandatory education all contribute to this problem. The disproportionate dropout rates for girls compared to boys raise further gender-related concerns.
Yousef Norouzi, the former Iranian Minister of Education, also provided two statistics regarding the number of school dropouts. He stated that currently, “the coverage of primary education in the country is 98.6 percent, but 160,373 children have not been enrolled in elementary school” and are considered as school dropouts.
He also declared the total number of individuals who have dropped out of school in Iran as “970,000” and stated that, “according to the latest information, there were 970,000 school dropouts in the country, of which approximately 150,000 have been reduced.”
Final words
The state of literacy in Iran, especially for women and girls, remains a dire concern. Opposition to global education initiatives, a lack of mandatory and free education, gender disparities, and a silent crisis of returning illiteracy all contribute to this ongoing problem. Equal access to quality education is a fundamental right that should never be compromised. This will never be achieved without regime change in Iran and the establishment of a democratic government that cares for the people.
