Age-Wise Education System in Yemen (2025 Guide for Parents & Students)

Yemen’s education system, once a pillar of national progress, is now in severe crisis due to prolonged conflict, leaving over 4.5 million children out of school and devastating infrastructure, teacher salaries, and learning conditions. While the formal structure spans pre-primary to higher education, with ambitious frameworks, its implementation is crippled by widespread poverty, displacement, gender disparity, and insecurity.

Damaged schools, teacher shortages, and lack of basic resources have severely reduced access and quality, especially for girls and rural children. Despite these challenges, international efforts persist in rebuilding schools, supporting teachers, and reintegrating out-of-school children, though long-term recovery depends on political resolution and sustained aid.

Education Under Duress: The Unfolding Crisis in Yemen’s Classrooms

Yemen’s education system, once a cornerstone of national development, is in a state of severe crisis, profoundly impacted by years of relentless conflict and instability. While a formal age-wise structure exists, the reality on the ground paints a grim picture of limited access, vastly varying quality, and deep disparities affecting millions of children across the nation.

The Formal Structure: A Glimpse of Pre-Conflict Ambition

Yemen’s education system is theoretically structured into several key stages:

1. Pre-Primary Education (Kindergarten):

Age: 4 to 5 years

Duration: 1 to 2 years

Status: Non-compulsory and historically not widely available, particularly in rural areas. This level primarily focuses on developing basic social and cognitive skills, but its reach remains limited, with early childhood education largely managed by the Ministry of Education (MOE) but mainly run by the private sector in main cities.

2. Basic Education (Primary and Lower Secondary):

Age: 6 to 14 years

Grades: 1 to 9

Duration: 9 years

Compulsory: Legally mandated, however, enforcement has been severely hampered by the ongoing conflict. This stage is further divided into:

• Primary (Grades 1–6): Ages 6 to 11
• Lower Secondary (Grades 7–9): Ages 12 to 14

In 2018, approximately 3.9 million pupils were enrolled in primary education, and 1.156 million in lower secondary, out of a total of 5.816 million pupils in primary and secondary education. The net enrollment rate for basic education was around 83.6% pre-conflict, with a pupil-teacher ratio of 25.4:1.

3. Secondary Education (Upper Secondary):

Age: 15 to 17 years

Grades: 10 to 12

Duration: 3 years

Types:

• General Secondary Education: Focuses on academic learning, preparing students for higher education.
• Technical/Vocational Education: Aims at skill development for direct entry into the workforce. This type of education is far less common due to severe limitations in infrastructure and resources. In 2016, there were around 760,000 pupils in upper secondary education.

4. Higher Education:

Age: 18+ years

Types:

• Universities: Both public and private institutions offer bachelor’s, master’s, and a limited number of PhD programs. Universities in Sana’a and Aden were established in the 1970s, with five more founded in Dhamar, Mukalla, al-Hudeidah, Taiz, and Ibb after the 1990 unification.
• Technical Institutes and Colleges: Provide specialized professional or vocational training.

Overwhelming Challenges: A System on the Brink

The protracted conflict has systematically dismantled the education system, creating a humanitarian catastrophe for Yemeni children.

Massive Out-of-School Population: As of 2023-2024, over 4.5 million Yemeni children (aged 5-17) are out of school, representing over two in every five children. This number is a significant increase from previous years and accounts for nearly 33% of the overall school-aged population. Around 1.2 million out-of-school children are at the primary level, and about 1.1 million at the upper secondary level.

Conflict-Induced Disruptions:

• Damaged Infrastructure: Approximately 2,426 schools have been damaged, destroyed, or are being used for non-educational purposes (e.g., shelters for displaced families, military use). This forces many children to attend overcrowded makeshift schools with rudimentary facilities, or to simply miss out on education entirely.
• Insecurity and Displacement: Over 4.5 million people have been internally displaced since 2015, with displaced children among the most vulnerable to education disruptions. Insecure routes to schools and fear of violence lead to high dropout rates.
• Attacks on Education: There have been numerous reported attacks on schools, further contributing to an environment of fear and anxiety, driving down learning outcomes. In 2021, over 60% of students whose schools were attacked did not return.

Teacher Salary Crisis and Shortages: A critical issue is the widespread non-payment of salaries for public school teachers, particularly in Houthi-controlled areas, affecting nearly 193,668 teachers in 2023. This has forced many qualified educators to leave the profession, leading to severe teacher shortages and a decline in the quality of education. Overcrowded classrooms and limited professional development opportunities further hinder teachers’ ability to work effectively. Many teachers are reaching retirement age, with some estimates suggesting 80% of educators in Taiz Governorate will retire by 2028.

Gender Disparity: Girls face significantly more barriers to education, especially in rural areas. In 2016, 36% of primary school-aged girls were out of school compared to 24% of boys. This disparity widens at the secondary level, with nearly 70% of female youth of secondary school age out of school compared to 38% of male youth. Factors include long distances to schools, safety concerns, and societal expectations that girls should focus on household tasks or early marriage.

Socioeconomic Factors: Poverty is a major driver of school dropout rates. Families often cannot afford school fees (even in public schools that are theoretically free, indirect costs accrue) or withdraw their children to engage in child labor to contribute to household income. The overall poverty rate in Yemen is estimated to be around 80% of the population.

Lack of Resources and Quality: Even in functional schools, there is a severe lack of basic resources such as textbooks, furniture, and proper sanitation facilities. Only 34% of schools have access to a library. The quality of learning is drastically affected by these deficiencies and by the lack of qualified teachers.

Child Protection Risks: Children out of school are at higher risk of exploitation, including early marriage (especially for girls) and recruitment into armed groups. UNICEF reported 1,572 boys recruited and used in the conflict in two years leading up to 2017.

Ongoing Efforts and the Road Ahead

Despite the immense challenges, international organizations like UNICEF, UNESCO, and others, often in partnership with local authorities and donors, are working to support Yemen’s education sector. Initiatives include:

School Rehabilitation: Restoring damaged schools, adding classrooms, and improving hygiene facilities and access to solar power.

Provision of Learning Materials: Supplying textbooks, stationery, and school bags.

Teacher Support: Providing financial incentives or training for teachers, though this remains a significant challenge.

Addressing Out-of-School Children: Implementing accelerated learning programs and community-based initiatives to help children catch up on lost education.

Focus on Girls’ Education: Specific programs are often tailored to address the unique barriers faced by girls, including ensuring separate sanitation facilities and advocating for their continued enrollment.

Technical and Vocational Training: Equipping TVET colleges to provide skills for employment and ease transition into the workforce.

Adult Literacy Programs: Addressing the significant illiteracy rates, particularly among women.

The humanitarian needs in Yemen are staggering, with an estimated 18.2 million people, including 11.2 million children, requiring humanitarian assistance and protection in 2024. Education remains a critical lifeline, offering stability, protection, and hope for a future generation. However, without a comprehensive political solution to the conflict and sustained international support, the path to a resilient and equitable education system in Yemen remains arduous.

FAQs on Age-wise Education System in Yemen

What is the current state of Yemen’s education system?
Yemen’s education system is in a state of severe crisis due to prolonged conflict, with millions of children out of school and widespread damage to infrastructure.

What are the main levels of education in Yemen?
Education in Yemen includes pre-primary (ages 4–5), basic education (grades 1–9), secondary education (grades 10–12), and higher education through universities and vocational institutes.

Is education in Yemen compulsory?
Basic education (grades 1–9) is legally compulsory, but enforcement is weak due to the conflict and lack of resources.

How has the conflict impacted school infrastructure?
Over 2,400 schools have been damaged, destroyed, or repurposed for non-educational use, leading to overcrowded classrooms or total lack of access for many students.

How many children are currently out of school in Yemen?
More than 4.5 million children aged 5–17 are out of school as of 2023–2024, making up over 40% of school-aged children.

Why are so many Yemeni children out of school?
Key reasons include damaged infrastructure, insecurity, displacement, poverty, child labor, early marriage, and lack of access to educational facilities and materials.

What challenges do teachers in Yemen face?
Many teachers have gone unpaid, especially in Houthi-controlled areas, leading to widespread shortages and declining education quality.

Is there a gender disparity in access to education?
Yes, girls face more barriers than boys, particularly in rural areas, due to safety concerns, societal norms, and early marriage practices.

How has the teacher shortage affected the quality of education?
With many qualified teachers leaving due to unpaid salaries, classrooms are overcrowded and lack skilled instruction, reducing overall learning outcomes.

What efforts are being made to support education in Yemen?
Organizations like UNICEF and UNESCO are working to rehabilitate schools, provide materials, support teachers, and offer programs to reintegrate out-of-school children.

Are there any programs focused on girls’ education?
Yes, targeted programs aim to improve girls’ access by providing separate sanitation facilities, safe learning environments, and advocacy for continued education.

What is being done to help children who missed years of schooling?
Accelerated learning programs and community-based initiatives are being implemented to help children catch up on lost education.

What role does poverty play in the education crisis?
Poverty forces families to pull children out of school for labor or because they can’t afford associated costs, even in public schools.

How is vocational education addressed in Yemen?
Vocational education exists but is limited due to poor infrastructure and funding, though efforts are underway to strengthen this sector.

What are the risks for children out of school?
Out-of-school children are vulnerable to exploitation, child labor, recruitment into armed groups, and early marriage.

Are adult literacy programs available in Yemen?
Yes, there are some programs aimed at reducing illiteracy, particularly among women, though reach and funding remain limited.

How are displaced children affected educationally?
Displaced children often face interrupted schooling, lack of access to safe learning environments, and higher dropout rates.

What is the long-term solution to Yemen’s education crisis?
A sustainable recovery requires a comprehensive political resolution to the conflict and long-term international investment in rebuilding the education system.