Human rights report warns of “total collapse” of education system in Yemen
SANAA, Jan. 24 (YPA) – The ‘Entesaf Organization for Women and Children’s Rights’ has warned of a total collapse of the education system in Yemen, in a collective crime committed in full view of the world.
The organization emphasized that the suffocating blockade and deteriorating economic conditions resulting from the 11-year war have turned schools into ruins, teachers into victims without salaries, and students into mere numbers on lists of deprivation.
The organization stated that while the world celebrates the International Day of Education under resonant slogans about “promoting human rights,” Yemen is enduring the worst chapters of a systematic educational collapse caused by a stifling siege and an exhausted economy. This has disrupted the educational process, turning it into a mere formality without substance.
The statement added that education is no longer just an affected sector but a direct target; more than 3,768 educational facilities—representing 11.5% of the total schools—are out of service due to total or partial destruction. Meanwhile, a large number of schools have been converted into displacement centers as the number of displaced persons has reached approximately five million.
The organization pointed out that the backbone of education collapsed with the suspension of salaries for more than 196,197 teachers (both male and female) since 2016. By 2026, the purchasing power of those who remained has vanished, forcing thousands of teachers to leave the profession. This has paved the way for depriving more than four million additional children of their right to a quality education.
It further noted that schools face an annual deficit exceeding 56 million textbooks, a situation that strips education of its most basic requirements. Simultaneously, the number of students in need of emergency assistance has risen to 8.6 million amid worsening poverty and new waves of displacement.
According to international estimates for 2026:
- 6 million students are suffering the consequences of the war.
- 7 million children face the imminent risk of dropping out of school.
- The percentage of girls out of school has exceeded 31%.
- Forced labor among girls has risen to 12.3%, alongside an alarming increase in child marriage as a desperate option for impoverished families.
Entesaf concluded its statement with a resounding call to the international community and the United Nations to move beyond “concern” toward strategic action. It urged serious pressure to lift the blockade immediately and pay teachers’ salaries without delay, asserting that silence is no longer neutrality, but rather indirect participation in the destruction of the minds and futures of Yemen’s generations.
YPA