Houthi-Controlled Regions Mandate Sectarian Activities in Schools

In the Houthi-controlled regions of Yemen, the de facto Ministry of Education has issued a new academic calendar that prioritizes sectarian activities over core educational objectives, sparking widespread concern among observers and educators.

The calendar for the academic year 1448 AH, released by the ministry administered by the Houthi militia, mandates that both public and private schools implement a lengthy list of events and activities with a distinct ideological and sectarian character. This directive has been interpreted by analysts as a significant shift in the intended role of educational institutions.

A substantial portion of the scheduled activities are not directly related to the educational process. Instead, they focus on ideological and sectarian observances that are being compulsorily imposed on schools and students throughout the academic year.

Educators argue that the proliferation of these activities places additional burdens on the educational environment. This expansion is expected to disrupt regular class schedules, exacerbating existing challenges such as limited resources, deteriorating infrastructure, and the ongoing difficulties faced by teachers and students.

The educational sector in these areas is already grappling with cumulative crises, including unpaid salaries, a lack of resources, the ideological manipulation of curricula, and a significant decline in the quality of education. The addition of this extensive list of sectarian activities is viewed as a detrimental development for the future of students and the priorities of the educational process.

Ultimately, the new Houthi calendar highlights a growing debate regarding the direction of education in the militia-controlled territories, pitting fundamental educational needs against the expansion of non-ideological activities within schools.