The share of students in private schools in Iran has increased from 11.4 percent in the 2016-2017 school year to 14 percent in the 2022-2023 school year, and now stands at about 15 percent. This occurs in a context where economic pressure and chronic inflation have significantly raised living costs for households.
High Costs of Private Schools
In the 2024-2025 school year, the tuition fees for private schools are set at 91 million tomans for elementary students, 95 million tomans for middle school students, and 145 million tomans for high school students. These costs do not include additional expenses such as transportation, food, and uniforms. In some special and expensive schools, tuition fees have even been reported to exceed 100 million tomans.
Read more: Iraq in Flames: Drone Attacks and the Shutdown of a Key Pipeline in Saudi Arabia
Reasons for Choosing Private Schools
Despite the rising costs, some families continue to choose private schools. Research shows that urban middle-class families select private schools for their educational quality, cultural environment, and alignment with their social values. This choice is not only related to educational quality but also seeks to create a distance from the educational and ideological environment of public schools.
Although private schools operate under the Ministry of Education, families are looking for an environment with different facilities and management by paying tuition. Therefore, the costs incurred for some families are not just the price of better education, but the price of having a choice in their children's educational environment.
Changes in Student Composition and Economic Pressure
Some families may cut back on other living expenses to pay for private school tuition. However, official data does not clearly explain how many middle-class families can afford these costs. Thus, the increase in the share of students in private schools may not indicate an increase in purchasing power and may even suggest the opposite.
The change in the class composition of students is an issue that has not yet been fully examined and requires more data. In this context, important questions arise about the quality and capacity of public schools. If some families consider private schools a more reliable option for their children's future despite financial pressure, this issue needs deeper investigation.
Read more: Security of the Strait of Hormuz; The Key is in America's Hands · 80 Million Barrels of Oil; Unanswered Questions About Four Tracers
