services such as […] schools, which had a direct negative impact on the rights of children living
in those regions. 6
The state organization for School Renovation, Development, and Equipment of the Islamic
Republic of Iran, reporting to the Ministry of Education, is in charge of school facilities and
equipment countrywide.7 In 2019, Iran’s Ministry of Education stated that the government was
committed to improve the quality of education as well as school infrastructures.8 In January
2020, Tehran’s mayor stated that between 60 to 70% of schools in the city were unsafe while
noting limited public funds due to the financial crisis.9 Reports have indicated the involvement of
the Iranian Government in school-building projects abroad, notably in Syria. 10 11
Iran’s budget for education has been reportedly particularly low compared to other low-income
countries in the region,12 although it increased for the past few years13 but remains under the
world average.14 The lack of resources for schools has been particularly felt in rural and remote
areas. In border provinces, predominantly inhabited by ethnic minorities, the lack of schools and
the prominence of poor infrastructures combined with the lack of access to basic services such as
running water is reportedly severe, notably in the Sistan and Baluchestan province.15 In
Khuzestan, children reportedly have to travel long distances to receive and education, and a
significant number of schools are in makeshift facilities.16 17
There is a general shortage of teachers in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Female teachers reportedly
lack in rural areas.18 Teachers in Iran have been protesting their low salary and poor work
conditions, which may well impact the quality of education provided to children.19
In its General Comment on Article 13 of the Convention, the Committee on Economic Social and
Cultural Rights stipulates that education should be available in functioning educational institutions
and in sufficient quantity. Conditions to function include notably “buildings or other protection
6
Concluding Observations, Committee on the Rights of the Child, 2016CRC/C/IRN/CO/3-4,
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CRC/C/IRN/CO/3-4&Lang=En
7
http://dres.ir/en/page/14/about-us
8
Iran Press, https://iranpress.com/iran-i138709education_minister_our_priority_is_to_raise_the_quality_of_education_for_school_pupils
9
Iran Wire, https://iranwire.com/en/features/6660
10
Ibid.
11
Iran Press, https://iranpress.com/middle_east-i143081-tehran_ready_to_help_damascus_to_rebuild_and_re_equip_schools
12
Iran News Wire, https://irannewswire.org/irans-school-student-budget-one-quarter-of-world-average/
13
Data World Bank https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS?locations=IR
14
Ibid.
15
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, July 2019,
https://undocs.org/A/74/188
16
Centre for Supporters of Human Rights, http://en.cshr.org.uk/2016/10/02/education-sectors-share-state/
17
European Ahwazi Human Rights Organization, 3 January 2016, https://www.ahwazna.org/en/article/11019 (Please note that
the Ahwazi Arab communities use the spelling Ahwaz for a region explained in this article: https://unpo.org/members/7857)
18
Beyond the Veil: discriminations against women in Iran, https://minorityrights.org/wpcontent/uploads/2019/09/MRG_CFR_Iran_EN_Sept191.pdf
19
Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/11/22/iran-mounting-crackdown-teachers-labor-activists
2