Despite decades of grandiose claims, the Iranian regime has failed to address a fundamental crisis: illiteracy and educational neglect. According to Abdolreza Fouladvand, head of the Literacy Movement Organization, 18 million Iranians remain illiterate or semi-literate, with 7.5 million classified as completely illiterate. This shocking statistic represents nearly 20% of the population—an indictment of the regime’s chronic mismanagement and neglect of its most basic responsibilities.

Propaganda vs. Reality
Fouladvand’s attempt to frame this crisis as progress rings hollow. He boasts of an increase in literacy from 47.5% in 1976 to 97% today, but these numbers obscure the grim reality on the ground. In border provinces like Sistan and Baluchestan and even in parts of Tehran, illiteracy remains rampant. Economic hardships, exacerbated by the regime’s incompetence, have forced countless families to pull their children from school.

According to official data, nearly 450,000 primary school-aged children are currently out of school, a figure that grows every year. High dropout rates among older students compound the crisis; as Gholamali Afrouz of Tehran University pointed out, 30% of students fail to complete high school and are pushed into the labor market unprepared.

Cosmetic Reforms, Empty Promises
The regime claims that structural reforms in the Literacy Movement Organization, as outlined in the Seventh Development Plan, will address these issues. Fouladvand talks of modernizing literacy efforts, including programs for digital skills and life competencies. But these promises are nothing more than a smokescreen to distract from decades of negligence.

For example, while the regime claims to have educated over 11 million people in the past 45 years, this figure pales in comparison to the growing educational gap, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Women, who supposedly benefit from increased literacy rates, still face systemic barriers, particularly in impoverished regions where education for girls is often deprioritized.

The regime’s propaganda extends to its handling of refugee education. While boasting of providing education to nearly 920,000 Afghan and Iraqi refugees, Fouladvand conveniently ignores the regime’s failure to secure meaningful international aid. He laments that only 1% of the costs are covered by external sources, but this reflects the regime’s inability—or unwillingness—to prioritize education over its bloated military expenditures and regional adventurism.

The Consequences of Neglect
The regime’s failure to address illiteracy is not just an educational issue—it is a systemic failure that stifles social mobility and entrenches inequality. Illiteracy deprives individuals of opportunities, perpetuates poverty, and weakens society as a whole.

Yet, instead of taking responsibility, the regime spins hollow narratives of progress while millions remain uneducated and forgotten.

The literacy crisis is yet another example of the Iranian regime’s prioritization of propaganda over meaningful governance. Its leaders excel at overstating accomplishments while underreporting the consequences of their failures. Unless systemic change occurs, the regime will continue to deprive millions of Iranians of the education and opportunities they deserve, all while hiding behind a veneer of progress that serves only its propaganda machine.