Iran has ordered a mandatory virtual school shift for all students. The decision affects 16 million learners nationwide. A Ministry of Education spokesperson announced the policy on Saturday. The new rules apply to every grade level. They also cover all 31 provinces. The virtual school shift will start on April 21. Officials say it will remain in place indefinitely. They gave no specific end date for the ban. For example, even final exams will occur online.
Students will use two main learning platforms instead. One platform is the national SHAD social network. The other is Iran’s television school broadcast. Both systems have operated successfully since 2020. The government first developed SHAD during earlier disruptions. Iran then expanded its digital learning capacity significantly. The spokesperson confirmed that no in-person classes will occur. He added that the virtual school shift leaves no room for exceptions. As a result, school buildings will stay empty.
Nearly 16 million students attend Iranian schools today. About 70 percent have home internet access. The TV school broadcast reaches almost every household. Therefore, officials believe the virtual school shift will succeed. The ministry has trained over 800,000 teachers for online instruction. Training covered digital attendance tools and assignment systems. Regional education departments will monitor compliance closely. They will also provide technical support to families. In addition, they will track student logins daily.
The ministry will offer offline content for remote areas. These packages include USB drives and printed worksheets. Local help desks will assist parents with login problems. The virtual school shift does not involve any private companies. The Ministry of Education leads the entire operation alone. Foreign platforms will play no role in this process. Consequently, all data stays within government systems.
Education experts have shared their views on this decision. Dr. Laleh Mohammadi is a policy analyst in Tehran. She stated that the virtual school shift reduces health risks. She also warned about digital gaps for poor families. Mr. Reza Karimi is another analyst in the field. He praised teacher readiness for this transition. Many teachers already use SHAD for daily assignments. For instance, they post homework and quizzes there.
The government has not cited a specific new threat. Instead, officials frame this as a preparedness measure. The announcement surprised many working parents. They must now adjust their daily schedules. Older siblings may need to help younger ones. School meal programs will shift to local pickup points. Physical exams and counseling will move online or to health centers. Similarly, parent-teacher meetings will happen through video calls.
The ministry plans a formal mid-semester review. Officials will assess student participation rates then. They will also survey teacher satisfaction levels. Based on those results, they may extend the virtual school shift. They could also modify it based on feedback. The ministry urges families to update their SHAD application now. Parents should prepare quiet study spaces at home too. The TV school broadcast will air lessons daily from 8 AM to 2 PM. Furthermore, repeat broadcasts will run in the evening.
This nationwide policy replaces in-person schooling completely. The virtual school shift covers urban and rural areas equally. It starts on April 21, 2026. Authorities promise continuous technical support. They remind the public to check official ministry announcements only. No return date to classrooms has been set. For now, all Iranian students will study from home indefinitely. In conclusion, this marks a major education change for Iran.