Houthis Link Educational Support to Loyalty and Affiliation

The education system in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen faces renewed criticism as the group allegedly limits the distribution of essential school supplies and financial aid to its supporters and the families of fallen fighters. The Houthis have also reportedly mandated that private schools offer tuition waivers to these select groups, sparking outrage among parents and education advocates.

This development occurs while debate continues over the secondary school examination results recently announced by Houthi authorities. Education experts have voiced skepticism regarding the unusually high pass rates, expressing concerns about the potential impact on educational equity and the future of learning in Yemen. The controversy unfolds against a backdrop of severe economic hardship for millions of Yemeni families, who struggle to afford basic educational necessities due to the ongoing war and economic crisis.

Sources within the education sector indicate that the Houthi-run Zakat Authority oversaw the distribution of school bags and cash assistance. The mechanism allegedly prioritized families connected to Houthi fighters and supporters, leaving thousands of impoverished families without basic supplies. This selective distribution has fueled frustration, with many arguing that aid should be allocated based on humanitarian need, not political allegiance.

Parents in Sanaa have reported that their children received no educational support despite being registered as needy families, while witnessing aid being given to families linked to the Houthi group. Similar complaints have emerged from rural areas, where the cost of preparing children for school is prohibitive, and assistance remains confined to specific groups, exacerbating feelings of inequality. Humanitarian sources also report that Houthi authorities have confiscated school supplies and cash intended for poor students, which had been allocated by charitable initiatives.

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Ibrahim, a parent in the Houthi-held Yemeni capital, Sanaa, told Asharq Al-Awsat that none of his three children received any educational support despite being registered on lists of families in need, while he witnessed school bags and uniforms being distributed to families linked to the group. He said his family was living under severe financial hardship, yet their needs had been ignored. He argued that if charitable initiatives had supervised the distribution of the aid themselves, some of it would have reached his children.