Key Takeaways:

• Government aims to balance private school charges by curbing very high fees while allowing modest increases for lower-fee schools.
• Policy decisions on tuition follow Articles 15 and 16 of the law establishing non-state schools and seek to protect access for students facing financial hardship.
• There are around 21,000 private schools nationwide, with only 200–250 charging fees beyond most families’ means; extra-curricular services are billed separately and transparently.
• The tuition pattern for the 1405–1406 school year will be set with a supportive approach that considers household capacity.

Iran private school fees to be moderated for school year 1405–1406

Iranian authorities responsible for non-state education have outlined a cautious, family-focused approach to private school tuition for the coming school year. Ahmad Mahmoudzadeh, head of private schools and centres for non-state education and public participation, said that while inflation makes some adjustments unavoidable, policy will target excessive fees and aim to limit increases for lower-fee schools so that access to education is preserved.

Iran private school fees and what parents should know

Mahmoudzadeh told reporters that tuition policy is set under Articles 15 and 16 of the law on the establishment of non-state schools. The intention, he said, is to avoid fee hikes that would force students to leave their schools for financial reasons. “We will seek to ensure that increases do not prevent a pupil from continuing their education,” he stated, emphasising a supportive stance toward families.

The ministry’s figures indicate about 21,000 non-state schools operate across the country. Mahmoudzadeh argued it would be unfair to judge the entire sector on the basis of a few high-fee institutions, mainly concentrated in Tehran. He estimated that only some 200 to 250 schools charge fees that are unaffordable for many households, and noted these institutions typically offer additional services and specialised programmes.

Those additional services range from intensive training in specific sports to simultaneous instruction in multiple foreign languages or bespoke school activities that extend beyond the national curriculum. Mahmoudzadeh said such offerings have their own costs and that where schools provide them, the fees are charged separately and with transparency. He insisted this structure does not amount to unchecked or arbitrary tuition increases for routine schooling.

Officials confirm that the tuition schedule for the current school year has been finalised and that the process to set a tuition framework for the 1405–1406 academic year has begun. Mahmoudzadeh said there have been no new increases announced so far. When adjustments are decided, he added, the aim will be to apply a protective approach in line with families’ ability to pay.

Education administrators will therefore face the task of balancing two pressures: the need to reflect rising operational costs in school budgets and the priority of keeping non-state education accessible. Mahmoudzadeh indicated regulators will focus enforcement efforts on preventing unreasonable fee spikes, while permitting modest rises where necessary to maintain school standards and programmes.

Parents seeking clarity on potential fee changes were advised to consult their schools and await the ministry’s official tuition pattern for the next school year. Mahmoudzadeh emphasised transparency and communication, saying schools that charge separately for extra-curricular or specialised services must make those charges clear to families in advance.

As the process advances, stakeholders in Iran’s education sector will watch for specific guidance on permissible increases and mechanisms to protect vulnerable students. For now, the stated policy direction is clear: adjust fees where unavoidable but prioritise measures that prevent financial barriers to continued education in non-state schools.