Supporting education in Iran
“It was as if suddenly I grew wings,”
says 15-year-old Afghan refugee Marzieh on describing the impact of an innovative new programme between Educate A Child (EAC) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) that has allowed her to return to school. “The 500,000 Rials (approximately US$20) I received was worth more to me than 50 million Rials as it meant that I could now buy books and go to school straight away.”
With a history of prioritising education for all children regardless of nationality, the government of Iran today provides primary and secondary education for close to 330,000 refugees. While this has placed a financial burden on the education system, it has proved greatly effective, and refugee literacy rates have risen dramatically from 6% in 1981 to over 60% today.
As a key partner, UNHCR works closely with the government to support refugee education. In 2012 EAC committed its support to primary education for refugees in 12 countries, including Iran, securing a position as one of UNHCR’s leading private-sector partners. To date, within Iran itself, EAC has supported the enrolment and ongoing schooling of over 66,000 refugee children in primary school.
With refugee children facing substantial challenges in accessing education, EAC is co-funding a number of education programmes, including the construction of a new 10-classroom school accommodating over 720 primary school children in multiple shifts. “This school is indeed a blessing,” says Headmaster Akbar, “as it allows students from many other overpopulated schools to transfer to us, balancing the number of students and helping us provide a higher-quality and better standard of education.” EAC has also equipped schools in nine provinces with essential furniture, library books, and sports equipment, greatly improving the learning environment for students and teachers. As Ahmad, a nine-year-old Afghan student, says, “The sport equipment is so good. I am now much happier to play with my classmates in our school playground, and I like to come to school even more than before!” While education is free in Iran, many refugee families like Marzieh’s are so vulnerable that they are unable to afford school essentials. EAC, with UNHCR, is providing school uniforms, stationery, and transportation for vulnerable children living in the most isolated locations.
Together they have also funded a programme helping Marzieh’s family and 4,600 of the most vulnerable refugee families with essential financial support in the form of an ATM gift card to cover school expenses. For Marzieh, whose parents are disabled and unable to afford school enrolment fees or to buy much-needed books, this support to access school has made a world of difference.
EAC’s commitment to education is having a positive impact on out-ofschool refugee children across the 12 countries of the partnership, with Iran experiencing a 12% increase in primary school enrolment among refugees between 2012 and 2013. With EAC’s commitment to match further investment in refugee education, corporations, foundations, and private individuals now have a unique opportunity to play a part in this success.
