IRAN: Experts alarmed at growing rate of high school dropouts
After making startling advances in expanding public education and increasing literacy over the last three decades, Iran appears to be facing a major setback in education.
The number of students dropping out of school is more than 25%, says the secretary of the Assn. of Iranian Social Workers, according to news website Aftabnews.
The official, Mostafa Eghlimi, added that the figure is especially worrisome because kids who drop out of school are at greater risk of getting involved in crime or drugs, already an epidemic in Iran.
Eghlimi blamed the educational establishment for the high dropout rates.
He cited outdated textbooks, overworked teaching staff, lack of specialized care for different students and kids' personal problems outside the classroom as the reasons for the dropout problem.
Officials are saying that females are faring better than males: The number of illiterate girls is decreasing, while more and more boys aren't learning to read, according to Mohammad Mehdizadeh, an official for the nation's anti-literacy campaign cited by the semi-official Mehr news agency.
In fact, he said, for the first time in the history of Iran, the number of illiterate men is higher than that of women in Iran.
-- Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran
Photo: Iranian students hold an anti-American placard during an annual state-backed rally in front of the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran, marking the anniversary of takeover of the embassy in 1979 by militant students. Credit: Vahid Salemi / Associated Press
i sincerely think that united states has a higher drop out rate than iran. its really sad that its increasing in iran more than it used to be. This is not a god picture showing the high school drop rates this La times should of done better in geting a good picture not of students all happy signing that its high school drop out....
Posted by: faby | May 19, 2011 at 11:06 AM
i love how there is a random photo of someone holding "down with the usa" sign. LA times couldnt find another photo that actually relates more to what the topic is about.....education dropouts?? can someone say propaganda against Iran....just sad la times...starting to remind me of fox news
Posted by: tim | January 06, 2011 at 08:50 AM
Lets send them to Vietnam! oops, lets send them to compulsory military schools after all they do us proud since they're good at keeping peace in Iranian realm!
Posted by: Jack | January 01, 2011 at 08:26 PM