Al-Fassel | 2025-11-19

Yemeni children are becoming a lost generation

Yemen’s education system has crumbled under the weight of a decade-long war and humanitarian crisis, leaving millions of children without access to proper schooling.

Between 2015 and 2025, education has shifted from a basic human right to an unattainable luxury, especially for girls.

According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), over 11 million children require educational assistance, with 3.2 million completely out of school.

Bombing and conflict have damaged or destroyed more than 3,400 schools, forcing classrooms into hallways and stairwells.

Economic collapse has exacerbated the crisis, making education unaffordable for 20% of families.

Child marriage rates remain around 30%, as families resort to marrying off daughters to alleviate poverty.

Yousra, a 16-year-old girl from Taiz, was married at 12 and became a mother by 13, lamenting her lost opportunity to attend school.

Meanwhile, 70% of children in grades 2 and 3 lack basic numeracy skills, and 68% of girls in upper secondary years are out of school.

The situation is dire for teachers, the backbone of Yemen’s education system.

More than 170,000 teachers have gone without regular salaries for four years, forcing many to abandon the profession for alternative livelihoods.

Strikes and protests over unpaid wages have further disrupted education, leaving classrooms empty and students without guidance.

Exploitation and indoctrination: The human cost

In Houthi-controlled areas, schools have been repurposed for military training, recruitment of child soldiers, and sectarian indoctrination.

A senior Houthi military official admitted to recruiting 18,000 child soldiers, robbing children of their innocence and perpetuating cycles of violence.

Schools, once safe havens for learning, have become unsafe spaces, with 52 reported attacks on educational institutions during the conflict.

The politicization of education in Yemen has fueled division and instability.

Students are indoctrinated with sectarian ideologies, while violence and fear disrupt attendance.

A Save the Children survey found that 76% of students feel unsafe, with 14% citing violence as a direct cause of dropping out.

While initiatives like UNICEF’s Education in Emergencies project strive to sustain learning during conflict, the Houthi actions remain the primary cause of Yemen’s deteriorating education.

The Houthis have directly undermined rebuilding efforts by targeting schools, disrupting teacher recruitment, and restricting girls’ education.

Yemenis are hoping to restore access to education, but lasting progress depends on addressing the root cause: the Houthis’ ongoing exploitation of Yemen’s education system.

Every classroom reopened and every child educated weakens the cycle of violence perpetuated by the Houthis.

Yemen’s future hinges on dismantling these barriers and rebuilding education as a pathway to peace.