The Department of Education in Tehran has officially declared that Afghan migrant students holding census registration papers or “return-to-Afghanistan” documents will no longer be allowed to enrol in Iranian schools for the 1404 academic year (March 2025 to March 2026).
In a clear directive, the Education Department stated that all Afghan migrant students with these specific papers are now banned from accessing formal education in Iran. Yousof Baharloo, who serves as the Director General of Education for Tehran’s counties, issued strict instructions to school principals. He told them not to admit any migrant students possessing either census registration documents or exit papers. Additionally, he advised against sending their parents to the central education offices for further help.
Currently, it is estimated that about two million Afghan migrants living in Iran have census registration documents. While Nader Yarahmadi, Deputy Minister of Interior and Head of the Centre for Foreign Nationals and Migrants Affairs, confirmed that over 610,000 migrant students are studying in Iranian schools, he did not specify how many belong to the restricted group.
Despite no exact numbers, reports show that many Afghan migrant students have already been refused admission. This move has caused deep concern among Afghan families. Many of these families fled Afghanistan and settled in Iran to secure better educational opportunities for their children. The situation has become even more alarming after the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education beyond primary school in Afghanistan.
The new restrictions targeting Afghan migrant students have drawn criticism from human rights advocates. These families, already suffering due to conflict and displacement, now face another blow to their children’s future. The decision to bar Afghan migrant students from Iranian schools may further deepen the struggles of migrant communities trying to rebuild their lives.
