Higher Education System in Iran

Iran has witnessed massive growth in the higher education sector in recent years. Until previously, higher education in Iran was solely run by the public sector or state, with few private universities or schools opening in the past years.

However, the nation has noted major development of the private sector.

This development led Iran to be home to two of the ten most comprehensive multiversities in the world. Nevertheless, nearly all the expansion appeared at the undergraduate level. At the graduate level, many of the most significant programs are not included which results in the outbound movement among native students.

Structure Of Iranian Education System

Iran's education system hierarchy is classified at five levels- pre-school, primary, middle, secondary, and post-secondary. However, this article deals with higher education, the post-secondary education system.

The Central government regulates the administration of the education sector. As Iran is a theocracy and instituted by Islamic beliefs, the central government exercises extreme authority over education.

It also manages the financing and performance of primary and secondary education, through the ministry of education. The Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution is the chief authority in educational matters exercising far-reaching authority over policies and ordinances.

At the regional level, supervision is done by the provincial officials and the district offices.

In Iran, higher education is administered at the following type of institutions. The universities are classified as

  • General (or comprehensive),
  • Specialized (such as fine arts, engineering, medicine),
  • Comprehensive technology (applied science),
  • Payam-e-Noor University (Distance education),
  • Medical
  • Private

Facts About Higher Education System In Iran

According to reports released in 2013, Iran allocates around 3.7 percent of GDP on education. Which is fairly high in Islamic states.

There are no charges for tuition in public universities which relieves the students from less privileged backgrounds of financial burden and guarantees hindrance-free education.

Women constitute approximately 60 percent of the college population. Iran is one of the middle eastern countries that have laid emphasis on economic and social change. There are many opportunities for distance learning as well for the interested students.

Apart from universities, there are institutions for coaching teachers. These are named teacher training colleges. Additionally, there are Higher Education institutes and technical institutes that are regarded as non-university.

The Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology supervises every single higher education institute except medical institutions. The Ministry of Health supervises Medical Universities. The Technical and Vocational Training Organization manages the vocational education.

Private universities must get all their programs approved by the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution and acknowledged by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. This ministry administers the promised quality of higher education. Precise data on the process and practices of assessment is not available.

That being said, in matters of enrollment and literacy rates, Iran has a sensibly good position. It has a high literacy rate by regional criteria, and in relation to many other nations at comparable levels of development.

Currently, Universities in Iran include both public and private institutions. Universities are composed of chiefly autonomous bodies termed daneshkadeh.

Conclusion

Iran has progressed remarkably in past years in the area of education. Higher education needs upgradation and flexibility in programs for more opportunities to prevent out-migration of academically gifted students.



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