Iran Promises Temporary School Enrollment for Undocumented Afghan Children

Following the forced return of thousands of Afghan families from Iran, officials from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior have announced that a number of undocumented Afghan students will be temporarily enrolled in Iranian schools.

Nader Yar-Ahmadi, head of the Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs at Iran’s Ministry of Interior, said on October 25 that more than 280,000 undocumented Afghan children have left Iran. He added that approximately 320,000 Afghan students have so far been registered for the 2025 school year in Iran. This figure is significantly lower than last year’s 700,000 registered students.

Yar-Ahmadi pledged that for Afghan families who have not yet left Iran, temporary educational arrangements will be made for their children. While the initiative will not cover all undocumented children, authorities have promised to publicize details of the plan to help prevent any child from being excluded from education.

He noted that the responsibility for issuing passports lies with Iranian police and that, in coordination with the Afghan Embassy in Tehran, efforts are underway to provide identity documents for these families as quickly as possible. Iranian officials stated that their Ministry of Interior already holds information on these families, so there is no need for them to appear in person.

Yar-Ahmadi also urged schools to educate Afghan students in a way that familiarizes them with Afghan culture and society, preparing them for eventual return to their home country. He acknowledged that many of these children have no role in their families’ decision to stay or leave Iran and should not become victims of the situation.

These remarks come amid ongoing efforts by the Taliban administration to promote forced returns, despite the lack of accessible, quality education for returning children within Afghanistan. Many schools, particularly for girls, have been closed throughout the provinces, pushing the education crisis in the country to alarming levels. Given these circumstances, providing educational opportunities for Afghan children outside the country is seen as a pressing humanitarian need.