Prior to the mid-19th century, it was orthodox in Iran for education to be associated with religious institutions. The clergy, both Shia and non-Shia, assumed responsibility for instructing youth in basic literacy and the fundamentals of religion. Knowledge of reading and writing was not considered necessary for all the population, and thus education generally was limited to the sons of the economic and political elite. Typically, this involved a few years of study in a local school, or maktab. Those who desired to acquire more advanced knowledge could continue in a religious college, or madraseh, where all fields of religious science were taught. A perceived need to offer instruction in subjects that were not part of the orthodox religious curriculum, such as accounting, European languages, military science, and technology, led to the establishment of the first government school in 1851. For many years this remained the only institution of higher learning in the nation.

primary education was introduced in Iran after the nation’s first constitution was drafted in 1906. Predominantly an urban system, it expanded only gradually and did not include secondary education until 1925. At the time of the 1979 Islamic revolution, only 60 % of Iranian children of primary school age, and less than 50 % of those of secondary school age, were listed in public schools; overall adult literacy was only 48 %. Since 1979 the government has given a high priority to education, with programs focusing on adult literacy, new school construction, and development of public colleges and other institutes of higher education.