The education system in areas under Houthi control is facing a fresh wave of criticism as the group launched the new academic year during the summer. The Houthis are accused of limiting the distribution of school supplies and cash assistance to their supporters and to the families of fighters killed or missing on the front lines, while also requiring private schools to grant tuition exemptions to the same groups.
The developments come as debate continues over the secondary school examination results announced by the Houthi authorities, with education experts questioning the unusually high pass rates and raising concerns about the impact of these policies on educational equity and the future of education in Yemen.
The controversy unfolds as millions of Yemeni families continue to face worsening economic conditions, leaving many unable to afford even the most basic educational expenses, including tuition fees, school bags, textbooks, and uniforms, amid declining purchasing power and widening poverty caused by the war and the economic crisis.
According to education sources, the Houthi-run so-called Zakat Authority oversaw the distribution of school bags and cash assistance through supervisors affiliated with the group. The sources said the mechanism prioritized the families of Houthi fighters and supporters, while excluding thousands of impoverished families unable to provide basic school supplies for their children.
