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Iranwire – Several schools in Iran have been charging Afghan students “illegal” amounts of money for their enrollment, constituting a form of bribery and a clear violation of the law, the DidbanIran website has reported.
According to the report, a source at the Children’s Aid Association has said that these public schools demand fees ranging from “500,000 tomans to millions” ($10 to hundreds) from Afghan students, a practice deemed unlawful and exploitative.
An anonymous source from the association, cited in the DidbanIran website report, emphasized the importance of reporting these illegal fees to the Department of Education.
However, the report also said there are “obstacles” in the reporting process, and families are not adequately aware or vigilant regarding this issue.
The association source also highlighted requirements for Afghan students to submit an annual “sponsorship form” during the registration process. However, many of these students work and their parents are also working, making it challenging for them to visit the offices and to obtain the necessary form.
Additionally, concerns were raised by the association about uncertainties surrounding the admission of Afghan students even after obtaining the sponsorship form.
School administrators exercise discretionary powers and often prioritize Iranian children over Afghan students, leading to potential discrimination.
The report said that approximately 670,000 immigrant students were identified in Iran during the last school year, accounting for 4.2% of the total student population in the country.
However, the head of the School Donors Society, as reported by the Hamshahri newspaper, said that there are a million Afghan children residing in Iran who require education access.
