Iran’s development has not been proportionate to the development of higher education, resulting in youth disappointment and a decline in university students, Hossein Haqgou, an economic analyst, wrote for the Persian-language daily Ta’adol. A translation of the article follows:
The Statistical Center of Iran published its latest report on unemployment a few days after the nationwide university entrance examination.
According to SCI, unemployment stood at 9.2% in the first quarter of the current year (started March 21); the unemployment of university graduates was 39.7%, as 971,000 university graduates were jobless in Q1.
The country’s development has not been proportionate to the development of higher education and this has led to youth disappointment and a decline in university students. The total number of university students in the fiscal 2020-21 was 3.2 million compared with 4.8 million in 2014-15, indicating a decline of 1.5 million over six years.
The decline in the number of students and educational desire over the past decade has coincided with a decline in economy, which decade saw 0% economic growth and investment, as well as an inflation of above 20%.
The decline in the number of students and educational desire over the past decade has coincided with a decline in economy, which decade saw 0% economic growth and investment, as well as an inflation of above 20%
Given the economic tenor in the country, job creation, particularly in manufacturing sectors, has become increasingly difficult. The absence of ties with the world as a result of political tensions has made the transfer of technical knowhow needed for improving industrial activities of university graduates much more difficult.
The decline in the added value of manufacturing sector has resulted in a decline in the number of applicants for majors in mathematics and physics. A total of 140,000 students applied for university majors in mathematics and physics, i.e., one-third of the number in the last decade.
Job prospects in industrial sector are dim for graduates; they can’t land a favorable job when they finish their studies. The country has been entangled in a vicious circle: on the one hand, efficient labor force for achieving economic growth based on industrial growth is not being trained; on the other hand, lack of educated labor force has resulted in a decline in economic growth and development.
At present, the main challenge facing the economy is the creation of jobs for the large number of people with technical degrees instead of creating jobs for individuals with low levels of literacy. This won’t come true, unless the country achieves high and sustainable economic growth via large and targeted investment (which, in turn, requires allaying uncertainties in macroeconomic variables, improving foreign interactions and boosting social capital).
Does the government notice the needs of our educated young adults? Does the government hear their voice? Just browse through social networks to learn that the despair of young people is getting bigger by the day; they have to do jobs different from their majors and skills, or seek to leave their native country.
The confrontation between education and career won’t be limited to the economy; it will create crises that might leave the society and politics in shock. The Arab Spring was the telling example of such bitter incidents in regional countries over the past decade.
