Students in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen are concerned about lost opportunities following a government decision not to authenticate certain academic certificates. Bashar Mohammed, a 19-year-old who completed high school in Sanaa, is worried that authorities in Aden will not validate his credentials. Yemen has been divided between the internationally recognized government and the Houthis since the conflict began over a decade ago. In late July, the Aden-based Education Ministry issued a circular suspending the authentication of school certificates from Houthi-controlled areas, citing difficulties in accessing official records needed for verification. The ministry attributed this issue to the Houthis.
Students are left uncertain about their futures. Mohammed expressed frustration, stating, "It amounts to saying that our 12 years of schooling were a waste of time. This is painful." To study abroad, Yemeni students need their certificates authenticated by the Foreign Ministry, which requires a stamp from the Education Ministry.
Ayman Ahmed, an 18-year-old recent graduate from Raymah province, criticized the situation, saying it punishes students rather than the Houthis. He noted the risks of dissent against the Houthis, who have imprisoned opponents and UN staff. Ahmed described the treatment of their certificates as collective punishment.
The Minister of Education, Adel al-Abadi, clarified that the suspension does not apply to all academic years, as some records are accessible for verification. However, Ahmed argued that the responsibility for the missing data lies with education officials in both Sanaa and Aden.
Yemen's education system is fragmented, with different policies and curricula in Houthi and government-controlled areas. The school year begins in June in Houthi areas and in late August in government-controlled regions, with divergent high school test formats and exam dates.
The ongoing conflict has escalated recently, raising concerns about further disruptions to education. The UN reports that around 2,800 schools have been damaged or destroyed, and over 6.6 million children are out of school in Yemen this year.
Sociology researcher Mohammed Abdu emphasized the need for a consensus on educational policies to alleviate the challenges faced by students. Aref Naji Ali, an advisor with the Ministry of Education in Aden, acknowledged the dangers of the divided educational policies, stating that education should not be a battleground for political conflict. While he defended the ministry's decision, he placed blame on the Houthis for the situation.
Schoolteacher Ammar Amri expressed anger over the impact on students, stating that many have the potential and resources to study abroad. He lamented that the ongoing conflict has led to lost opportunities for students and society as a whole, suggesting that education has been deprioritized by the warring factions.