Iran Bans School Fees for Foreign Students in Public Schools
In a significant move to support international students, the Iranian Ministry of Education has announced that demanding registration fees from foreign students in public schools is strictly illegal. Muhammad Salimi, the head of the International Affairs and Foreign Schools Center, confirmed that public school enrollment must remain free of charge for all nationalities.
While the policy ensures that no mandatory costs are attached to enrollment, Salimi clarified that any monetary contributions made by the public must be entirely voluntary. Such contributions cannot be used as a condition for a student to enroll or continue their education.
Massive Surge in Foreign Student Enrollment
The directive, which was coordinated with the Ministry of Interior earlier this year, comes at a time of rapidly increasing demand. Currently, more than 362,000 foreign students—the majority of whom are from Afghanistan and Iraq—have already registered for the current academic year.
The numbers are expected to climb even higher. Last year, the total number of foreign students reached 387,000, and officials anticipate that this year's figures will surpass that record by approximately October 7, 2026.
Recent administrative changes have also played a role in boosting these numbers. The government recently lifted a requirement that parents must possess a SIM card registered in their own name to complete online pre-registration for the first, seventh, and tenth grades. This change alone has facilitated an additional 35,000 to 40,000 student registrations.
Health Screenings and Important Deadlines
For many families, the focus has now shifted to mandatory health screenings, known as Sanjesh. So far, over 43,600 Afghan children have successfully completed these screenings for the first grade.
For those who have yet to complete the process, parents should note the following:
- Deadline: Designated health screening centers will remain open until approximately October 7, 2026.
- Requirement: Parents are advised to obtain an official introduction letter from their local education office to facilitate the screening.
- Unauthorized Charges: Authorities have implemented measures to prevent any unauthorized fees from being collected during the health screening process.
How to Handle Illegal Fee Demands
It is important to note that these regulations apply strictly to public schools and do not extend to private educational institutions. If a