Iran

Nonformal education is conducted in the IRI through the Literacy Movement Organization, adult education classes, TVE programs, and distance education.

Literary Movement Organization: Established in 1984, the Literary Movement Organization (LMO) was created to encounter the disastrously high rate of national illiteracy inherited from the Pahlavi regime. Its main functions include the provision of adult education and education for children outside of the educational system, training instructors and qualified Muslim teachers committed to the principles of velayat-I faqih and to the Iranian constitution, preparing and adopting textbooks in keeping with the Islamic faith, promoting cultural awareness and revolutionary commitment, and attracting citizens to literacy classes.

Existing statistical reports show that the LMO covered almost 2.8 million people in the 1994-95 academic year. Of that number 78.9 percent were women and 21.1 percent men, while 53.7 percent were rural and 42.7 percent urban. Because of almost universal enrollment at the primary school level, 89 percent of the learners were adults with the average age of 29 years.

Literacy education is split into two cycles, introductory and complementary. Curriculum for the first cycle includes reading, writing, dictation, and arithmetic. The second cycle, or final course, includes study of the Qu'ran, Islamic culture, composition, mathematics, experimental science, social science, dictation, and Persian language.

Adult Education: What is termed adult education by the IRI is really supplementary evening courses provided for those who were not able to finish their studies during prior periods. The youngest age of a learner in the "adult" education program is 18 years of age. In reality adult education in Iran is handled by the Literacy Movement Organization.

Technical-Vocational Programs: The Technical and Vocational Training Organization (TVTO) of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is designed to prepare learners for the job market through instruction in necessary job skills. Training for the nonformal TVE is separated into three contexts: industrial, agricultural, and administrative and hygiene.

Distance Learning: Nonformal studies are offered as distance education at Payam-E-Noor University for holders of the Diplom-Motevaseteh. Courses last between five and eight years in fields such as education, mathematics, chemistry, and Persian literature. An associate's degree and bachelor's degree are awarded.