Individuals have to engage with the education system.
That is a bit of a simplistic response. Engagement with the educational system does not guarantee a successful outcome. Ability, like IQ is variable across a population. Not everyone is suited to a degree course,yet there is a disdain for equally essential vocational or technical courses. In an urban society manual dexterity and skill is required along with more "bookish" occupations. Also it is unreasonable to expect pensioners to seek employment. This was an attitude that supposedly had its day with the demise of the workhouse.
    Interesting that the rise of Iranian exiles is a recent occurrence.
The most likely explanation is not religious or LGT intolerance but the result of Trump's economic sanctions.