Yemeni Children Forced into Makeshift Classrooms Amid Crippling War
Yemeni Children Forced into Makeshift Classrooms Amid Crippling War
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In Yemen, the scars of war weigh heavily on education. According to an article by Arab News, dozens of children cram into tents or basic temporary rooms at Al-Ribat Al-Gharbi School near Aden, learning Arabic grammar under dire conditions: no shoes, no textbooks, and wooden benches. Teacher Suad Saleh says some classes exceed 105 students, and many pupils struggle to read or write.
More details in the following report:
The school reflects a broader crisis: power outages, no running water, and few trained teachers are widespread. Many teachers, forced to stay on modest salaries — Saleh says she earns just 50,000 Yemeni rials (approx. $31) — have left the profession. Deputy principal Mohammed Al-Mardahi said children wake up each morning for classes and eat UN-provided fortified biscuits because food security remains fragile.
UNICEF reports that of Yemen’s nearly 40 million population, about 3.7 million children aged 5–17 are out of school, while damaged infrastructure and unpaid teachers worsen the crisis. According to UNICEF, nearly 2,426 schools are either destroyed, partially damaged, or non-functional, and approximately one in four school-age children does not attend school.
“The main problems are the absence of suitable classrooms, almost no electricity, and no running water,” said Al-Mardahi, noting the collapse in formal learning opportunities.
The war has wiped out much of Yemen’s education system. According to UNICEF, roughly 2,916 schools have been destroyed, damaged, or repurposed since the conflict began, while nearly two-thirds of teachers have not received regular payment since 2016, leaving many to search for other livelihoods.
In contrast, some aid-funded schools in government-held areas have been rebuilt. A school in Aden funded by Saudi aid officials now has new desks, whiteboards, fans, and formal classrooms — a stark contrast to the tented schools used elsewhere. Principal Fathiya Al-Afifi described the overall devastation of Yemen’s education system as “catastrophic,” warning that an entire generation risks remaining illiterate.
The situation underscores how deeply the humanitarian crisis is affecting Yemen’s future: without safe, stable learning environments, the country’s long-term recovery could be severely compromised. More international support and local investment in rebuilding schools and paying teachers are urgently needed, experts say.
