Yemen's education crisis is exacerbated by conflict, economic instability, and COVID-19, affecting over 10.6 million school-age children and 2 million out of school.
Cover photo: Yemeni girls in a classroom.
Summary
Yemen's Education Crisis
• Over 10.6 million school-age children in Yemen are affected by ongoing conflict, economic instability, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The conflict has disrupted schooling, affecting nearly 5.8 million students.
• Infrastructure destruction has limited access to education, with one in four schools destroyed, damaged, or repurposed for non-educational use.
• Two-thirds of teachers have not received regular salaries since 2016 or seek alternative income sources.
• Over 2 million school-aged children are out of school, with projections suggesting this number could rise to 6 million.
• A multifaceted approach is needed to improve education, including enhancing infrastructure, ensuring regular salaries, revising curricula, providing learning materials, implementing incentive programs, enhancing domestic security, and implementing legal and civil service reforms.
Education in Yemen is currently facing a dire crisis, grappling with the compounding effects of ongoing conflict, economic instability, and the disruptive force of the COVID-19 pandemic. With over 10.6 million school-age children in Yemen, the impact of these challenges is widespread and severe.
The conflict and resulting disruption of schooling have had profound repercussions on the learning and overall development of Yemeni children. The closure of schools due to the pandemic further exacerbated the situation, affecting nearly 5.8 million students.
Moreover, the destruction of infrastructure, with approximately one in four schools either destroyed, damaged, or repurposed for non-educational use, has severely limited access to education.
Compounding this crisis is the plight of teachers, with two-thirds of them not receiving regular salaries since 2016 or seeking alternative sources of income. Consequently, more than 2 million school-aged children are now out of school, with projections suggesting this number could skyrocket to 6 million if the current circumstances persist.
Despite these challenges, organizations like UNICEF have been working tirelessly to mitigate the impact. In 2021 alone, UNICEF provided essential learning materials to over 209,000 children and facilitated access to formal and non-formal education for over half a million children.
The disruption of education in Yemen has far-reaching implications, affecting not only individuals but also society as a whole. Education serves as a cornerstone for personal development and the future prosperity of nations. It fosters opportunities, reduces inequalities, and drives sustainable development. However, disruptions to education can lead to a learning crisis, exacerbate existing inequalities, and impede economic growth.
To address these challenges and improve education in Yemen, a multifaceted approach is essential. This includes enhancing infrastructure to accommodate more students, ensuring teachers receive regular salaries, revising outdated curricula, providing learning materials, implementing incentive programs for families, enhancing domestic security, and implementing legal and civil service reforms.
The education crisis in Yemen demands urgent attention and concerted efforts from all stakeholders. By investing in education and implementing comprehensive reforms, Yemen can pave the way for a brighter future for its children and future generations.
@UNICEF @YemenEduCrisis @YemenConflictRelief @YemenGovt @UNESCO
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