Minister Addresses Academic Performance: A Multifaceted Challenge and a Path Forward
Iran’s Minister of Education, Alireza Kazemi, has presented a comprehensive analysis before the parliament, addressing concerns over student academic performance and outlining the government’s strategic plans for educational reform.
Acknowledging a Complex Issue
In response to an MP’s inquiry regarding a perceived decline in student performance, Minister Kazemi confirmed that educational quality is a persistent and chronic challenge that has concerned all administrations and parliamentary representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He emphasized that academic outcomes are intrinsically tied to broader national policies, as well as the prevailing social, economic, and cultural conditions.
Highlighting International Success
The Minister began his address by highlighting significant achievements on the international stage. He reported that Iranian students have demonstrated remarkable growth in global scientific arenas. In 2025, students won a total of 40 medals in international Olympiads—comprising 11 gold, 19 silver, and 10 bronze—marking an improvement of four medals and a 20-place rank jump compared to the previous year. These accomplishments were recently praised by the Supreme Leader at the start of the new academic year.
Domestic Metrics and Setbacks
Shifting focus to domestic education, Kazemi presented data showing an overall positive trend in average final exam scores for theoretical secondary education, with an increase recorded from 2023 to 2024. However, he acknowledged a specific 0.43% decline in the final exam scores for twelfth-grade students in 2024. The Minister attributed this dip to external disruptions, including 24 days of school closures due to air pollution and energy imbalances, which are outside the Ministry’s direct control.
The Root Causes: A Four-Layered Analysis
Minister Kazemi identified four key layers contributing to the academic performance challenge:
Structural & Policy Factors: The core issue, he stated, is a gap between the national curriculum—which remains heavily focused on rote memorization—and the real-world demands of the 21st-century job market. This disconnect reduces students’ intrinsic motivation. Other factors include an excessive volume of textbooks, the overwhelming focus on university entrance exams, and insufficient coverage of early childhood education, particularly in underprivileged areas.
School & Educational Factors: Many schools, especially in marginalized regions, lack basic facilities like laboratories, workshops, and modern technology. High student-to-teacher ratios, outdated teaching methods, and challenges in recruiting and retaining motivated teachers were also cited. The Minister highlighted a static education budget over the past decade, with its share of the GDP at 2.93%, below the global average of 4-5%.
Individual & Psychological Factors: Personal and psychological issues among students, including identity crises, future anxiety, mental health challenges, and weak metacognitive skills, play a significant role.
Familial & Social Factors: Broader economic conditions, poverty, graduate unemployment, a decline in family cultural capital, and the impacts of social media and other societal issues collectively influence student motivation and performance.
A Strategic Roadmap for Transformation
Outlining the government’s response, Minister Kazemi detailed both long-term and short-term strategies. The central, long-term plan is a fundamental transformation of the national curriculum, a process estimated to take at least seven years to implement grade-by-grade. He announced that new curricula and textbooks for the first grade have already been developed and piloted in eight schools, with a nationwide rollout planned over the next three years.
In the short term, the Ministry is prioritizing two key areas:
- Promoting Educational Justice: Over 7,700 projects are underway to develop educational infrastructure and support deprived areas, with 2,400 projects inaugurated in the past year alone.
- Enhancing Educational Quality: A major focus is on empowering teachers and principals. Over 80% of teachers have undergone training in modern teaching methods. The Ministry has also launched an artificial intelligence-based training program for educators and connected all teachers through a national social learning network to foster collaboration and shared experience.
Minister Kazemi concluded by affirming that education is the top priority for the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and with comprehensive parliamentary support, these reforms aim to build a resilient and forward-looking educational system for the nation’s youth.