by Al-Fassel | 2026-02-23

On a January morning in Yemen's Ibb governorate, children walked to school expecting regular classes in a rural district.

Instead, 14-year-old Mohammed Adel was killed during a live weapons exercise conducted inside his school building.

Local educators and rights organizations say the incident reflects a broader pattern of schools being used for non-educational activities.

According to teachers interviewed by rights monitors, weapons training and ideological instruction have increasingly entered school environments.

Classrooms that once focused on academic subjects are now periodically used by the Houthis for military lectures, drills and mobilization sessions.

Several teachers said they raised concerns before these practices expanded, but lacked the authority to intervene.

United Nations estimates indicate that schools in approximately 12 governorates have been affected by recruitment-related activities.

Human rights organizations report limited access to these areas, restricting independent verification of conditions on the ground.

Ramadan and recruitment patterns

During Ramadan, a sacred time for reflection and peace, the Houthis exploit religious gatherings to systematically militarize vulnerable children.

Rights groups, such as the SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties, have documented intensified recruitment activities coinciding with school closures

Using the guise of religious instruction, they target impressionable minds, indoctrinating children with extremist ideologies and coercing them to join their ranks.

These actions desecrate Ramadan’s sanctity, robbing innocent children of their childhood and transforming them into tools of conflict and war.

The urgency to confront these practices cannot be overstated, as a generation of lives is being sacrificed for a violent agenda.

Long-term implications for education and society

Education specialists warn that sustained disruption to schooling has long-term implications for human development in Yemen.

Children exposed to repeated military activities may face reduced academic continuity and higher dropout rates.

Political analysts describe the use of education spaces for ideological messaging as part of a broader effort to shape social identity.

Curricula, extracurricular programs and informal instruction increasingly emphasize loyalty and collective mobilization over civic education.

Researchers caution that prolonged exposure to conflict-related norms can complicate post-war reintegration efforts.

They note that rebuilding educational institutions will require addressing both physical infrastructure and long-term psychological effects.

Observers agree that Yemen's recovery will depend in part on restoring schools to their original educational function.

They add that sustained investment in education will be necessary regardless of future political outcomes.