The first day of Mehr has always been filled with hope, aspirations, and the promise of a fresh start for students, families, and teachers. For the Zoroastrian community, however, this day signifies more than just the reopening of schools—it represents a return to learning and growth, guided by invaluable teachings and human values.
The beginning of the school year for Zoroastrian institutions is like opening a new chapter in the lives of the community’s children and youth—one where, alongside academic studies, lessons of kindness, honesty, and friendship are also nurtured. To mark this occasion, we visited the Zoroastrian boys’ schools overseen by the Tehran Zoroastrian Association to see how they are preparing for the year ahead.
Bahram Boroumand, Principal of Firooz Bahram High School, explained that this year, thanks to the development budget provided by Dr. Behshid Barkhordar, the school’s main building has been repainted and rewired in cooperation with the School Renovation Organization. He added that the students’ restrooms and the cafeteria have also been renovated with the support of the Tehran Zoroastrian Association.
Firooz Bahram High School will officially begin the new academic year with a ceremony attended by Dr. Salehi Amiri, Minister of Cultural Heritage and Tourism. The event will also be joined by Dr. Amani, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Education, Mobed Mehraban Pouladi, Chair of the Council of Mobeds, Dr. Behshid Barkhordar, the Zoroastrians’ Representative in Parliament, and Afshin Namiranian, President of the Tehran Zoroastrian Association and Head of its Education Committee.
Rostam Abadian Lower Secondary School
Rostam Abadian Lower Secondary School has 65 students enrolled this year, with 23 in seventh grade, 25 in eighth grade, and 18 in ninth grade. Around 70 percent of the student body comes from the Zoroastrian community. Since major renovations were carried out last year, the school has focused this year on maintenance and servicing of its facilities. Principal Ardeshir Bahmardi noted that three ninth-grade students were admitted last year to exemplary public schools, a point of pride for the institution.
Jamshidjam Boys’ Elementary School
Jamshidjam Zoroastrian Boys’ Elementary School in Tehran has 89 students this year, a decrease of nine compared to last year. The distribution includes 8 students in first grade, 12 in second, 14 in third, 18 in fourth, 19 in fifth, and 16 in sixth grade. The school also welcomes two Christian students, one in third grade and one in fourth grade.
From last year’s sixth-grade graduates, one student was admitted to a gifted students’ school. Several renovation projects have also been completed this year with the support of benefactors and the Tehran Zoroastrian Association. These improvements included repainting, electrical rewiring, and welding, carried out at a cost of about 100 million tomans. The balcony was also waterproofed through the assistance of the Tehran Zoroastrian Association.
School principal Nooshin Pashootan announced that, in the coming year, a Shahnameh instructor will work with students in the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. A physical education teacher has also been hired by the school to lead sports classes. Pashootan added that three members of the teaching staff have been provided by the Tehran Zoroastrian Association.
One of the school’s major initiatives this year, carried out in collaboration with its teachers, has been the creation of video lessons covering all textbook materials, which have been uploaded to the “Shad” online learning platform. In addition, students and their families received textbooks and supplementary materials before the start of the new academic year.
The school will officially open the 1404 academic year on the first of Mehr with a Gahambar recitation ceremony.
