An Increase in the Iranian Women’s Share of Running the Country

Formal education for women in Iran began in 1907 with the establishment of the first primary school for girls. By mid-century, legal reforms granting women the right to vote and raising the minimum age for marriage offered more opportunities for women to pursue education outside the home. By 1989, women dominated the entrance examinations for college attendance. Today, education became a social norm and a marker of achievement in Iranian society. In the last five years alone, Iranian women have made up more than 60 percent of university entrants.

Despite all improvements, the situation was and still is more difficult for rural female students and those live in small cities. Thus, towards supporting women to continue their education at higher levels, Islamic Azad University adopted the Guidelines on the Education of Girl Students Concentrated Programme. Towards the adoption of these Guidelines, one of Azad University’s programmes for this year is the transfer of girl students to where their families live. In this regard, some students for being daughters of lecturers and another notable number of them with their own request have been transferred to the towns and cities where their families reside.

It is believed that transferring students for education to their home towns is necessary due to various cultural issues, expenses and traveling dangers. It might also cause more effective learning performances.

The remarkable educational progress of Iranian girls in the last decade should be considered a social phenomenon, because its implications for social relations, the labor market, and the status of women in society and in the family are very important in determining the future of Iran. The growing number of female university graduates has already had an impact on Iran's labor market. Women have entered a number of professions both in the public and private sector.

According to released official report, in the last two years there has been 48 percent increase in the appointment of women in managerial careers. This measure is towards the optimum running of the country and creation of conditions for engaging women in management. Also, towards creating the basis for further participation of women in the decision making fields, Tehran Municipality has worked towards fair development of services and reduction of the gender gap. The number of female executives in the past two years has reached 18.6 percent and the government is planning to increase that figure to 30 percent.

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