The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with Hamrah Aval, has decided to form a joint company for the development of the Shad network. This network, which was launched during the pandemic to continue online education, has become an infrastructure for communication between teachers and students. Alireza Kazemi, the Minister of Education, announced on October 20, 2026, that the general principles of this decision have been approved by the Cabinet. The goal of forming this company is to determine the shares of the parties and secure the necessary capital for the development of Shad.
Concerns About the Future of Free Education
As the Shad network grows, concerns have arisen regarding the maintenance costs and investment for its development. Kazemi explained that continuing investment under the previous mechanism has faced limitations, and therefore, the formation of a joint company has been proposed as a solution for ongoing development. Meanwhile, the ninth meeting of the Shad steering committee was held under the chairmanship of Seyed Mohammad Amin Aghamiri, where he called for the determination of the business model and pricing of services.
Farshad Ebrahimpour, a member of the Parliament's board, also pointed out the lack of finalization of the shares and rights of the parties, calling for transparency in contracts and ensuring the basic services remain free. Somayeh Golpour, an assistant professor, has warned about the potential consequences of this structural change for educational equity, emphasizing that if the powers of the new company are not clarified, commercial interests may overshadow the goals of public education.
Challenges Ahead for Shad
The issue is not only the ownership of the new company but also the relationship between private investment and the public responsibility of the government in education, which is a matter that needs attention. The percentage of shares of the parties and the final details of the resolution have not yet been specified in public documents. Mohammad Reza Niknezhad, an education expert, states that the trend of privatization in the country's educational system is concerning. He emphasizes that if we consider the state of education in Iran on a spectrum from public to private education, it seems that we have moved towards privatization in many areas.
Niknezhad also points out that if the virtual platform Shad shifts towards commercial models, students whose families cannot afford educational costs may be deprived of access to education. He believes that any decision about the future of Shad should be evaluated against the criterion of whether this change will strengthen public education and equal access for students or may lead to an increase in the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students.
Read more: ADIPEC Report Shows 85% of Energy Leaders Speak of Investment Attractiveness · Increase in Cement Production Capacity in Africa and Its Impact on Energy Demand
