Iran faces rising school dropout rates amid economic crisis

Iran is facing a growing educational crisis characterized by rising dropout rates and significant numbers of children remaining outside the school system. In one Tehran school, 70 out of 400 students—approximately 17.5%—have been unable to continue their studies, with many in the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades. These dropouts are often driven by economic pressures, including inflation and the rising costs of schooling, which push adolescents toward child labor and poverty.

National statistics highlight the scale of the issue. According to the Ministry of Education, the ‘Shahid Mahmoudvand’ system has identified 141,837 out-of-school children aged 6 to 11, consisting of 78,670 boys and 63,167 girls. While over one million children have registered for first grade, officials note structural gaps that prevent many eligible children from entering or remaining in the learning cycle. Economic hardship is cited as a primary driver for boys leaving school to contribute to household livelihoods, while different socio-economic factors affect female students.