Back-to-School Excitement in Iran Amid War and Inflation
WANA (Sep 22) – Only a few days remain until the new academic year officially begins in Iran, and in these final days of summer, the stationery market is experiencing its usual annual bustle and activity.
Although this market, like other sectors, has not been unaffected by recent developments in the country—including the war, economic difficulties, and inflation caused by sanctions—the excitement of shopping is still visible in the eyes of children and teenagers.
A Narrative from the Perspective of Students and Families
Mahtab, a 15-year-old student, describes how she feels these days: “The school year that passed was a very strange year for all of us. Because of the special and security situation, we had many school closures. Of course, classes went online from a certain point onward, but still, nothing replaces in-person classes.”
Dalaram, a 12-year-old student, also spoke about the reopening of schools: “To be honest, I’m really excited for school to reopen as soon as possible so I can spend time with my friends; of course, if Mr. Trump lets us!”
Dalaram’s mother adds: “This year, because of the repeated school closures and the limited opportunities Dalaram had to see her friends during the recent war, unlike previous years when she was not particularly eager to go to school, my daughter is very excited about schools reopening.”
Changing Cultural Trends in Stationery: A Shift Toward Local Elements
During a survey and inquiries among several stationery sellers about students’ interest in products available on the market, the WANA News correspondent received interesting and notable responses.
Most sellers spoke of a significant interest among children and teenagers in products designed with Iranian elements, such as defensive missiles and Iranian commanders.
Unlike previous years, when students were more inclined toward notebooks and products featuring American heroes such as Spider-Man and Superman, this year students have shown much less interest in these designs.
This shift in preferences can be seen as a direct reflection of the recent developments and war against Iran; a war that completely transformed children’s and teenagers’ previous perceptions and imaginations about the United States.
The achievements and displays of strength by Iran’s defenders on the one hand, and the bitterness of the attacks on a school in Minab on the first day of the war on the other, showed the new generation that the United States is hostile even toward Iran’s elementary school students.
Mohammadreza, a 9-year-old student, speaks with particular enthusiasm about his interest in Iranian missiles and searches among the stationery shelves for a notebook featuring such designs.
When a WANA News correspondent asked him about his future career, he confidently said that he wanted to become a naval commander and proudly referred to the incident in which Iran captured an American unmanned underwater vehicle .
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Economic Concerns and Rising Prices in the Back-to-School Market
Alongside all this excitement, concerns about covering the cost of stationery purchases are also more prominent than in the past.
Families who, until last year, could meet a significant portion of their children’s educational needs with a set budget are now facing a wave of price increases in stationery, school bags, shoes, and clothing. According to industry representatives, prices for some items have even risen by more than 100 percent.
These difficult economic conditions have led many families, when shopping, to consider price as the primary factor rather than choosing goods based on high quality and durability, and then make their selections according to their limited financial means.
This autumn arrives as classrooms in Iranian schools prepare to host a generation that has experienced the events of recent months firsthand.
The intersection of the desire to return to educational environments and school friendships with a nationalistic and locally oriented approach to choosing stationery reflects a profound change in the way Iranian children and teenagers view the world.
Despite all the challenges and heavy economic pressures families face in providing their children with educational necessities, the combination of childhood excitement about returning to the classroom and the intellectual maturity resulting from the surrounding developments promises a different academic year—one in which awareness, resilience, and hope find meaning alongside one another.
