Mohammad Salimi, the head of the Center for International Affairs and Schools Abroad, elaborated on the educational challenges faced by Afghan students in Iran and emphasized that their education in public schools is free. He pointed to new government facilities for better access of Afghan students to the Iranian educational system, stating: "The perspective of the education system on the issue of educating children goes beyond a merely administrative duty; we consider it a fundamental, human right related to the future and national security."
Progress in Enrollment of Foreign Students
Salimi further clarified that so far, more than 43,600 Afghan students have completed their assessment processes and are in the process of final enrollment. Additionally, for a small number of students who have missed the deadline, comprehensive assessment centers will remain open until October 7th, allowing families to visit these centers with a referral from education departments.
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He also referred to the enrollment statistics for foreign students this year, stating: "Last year, 387,000 foreign students were enrolled in schools across the country, and currently, over 362,000, mainly from Afghanistan and Iraq, have registered, which is expected to exceed last year's figures by mid-October."
Removing Barriers to Enrollment and Unjust Costs
Salimi addressed the issues present in the enrollment system, saying: "For entry grades that required online pre-registration, the requirement of a SIM card in the name of the guardian created a serious obstacle for families without citizenship documents. However, in a flexible move, this requirement was lifted in the 10 days leading up to October, resulting in an addition of between 35,000 to 40,000 new students to schools."
Salimi also mentioned unjust costs in the health assessment process, stating: "Based on feedback from the public, some unjust costs will be revised and halted."
He firmly responded to the issue of charging tuition fees from foreign families, emphasizing: "Schools have no right to collect fees at the time of enrollment, and demanding tuition fees is completely illegal and prohibited. Enrollment in public schools is free, and there is no discrimination between Iranian and foreign students."
Finally, Salimi addressed family complaints in case of school violations, stating: "Families can register their complaints through the electronic portal 'My Media' and, if they do not have access to the system, they can follow up on their reports by visiting the education departments in person."
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