Armies of Liberation

Jane Novak's blog about Yemen

Disabled in Yemen Face Tremendous Difficulties

Filed under: Civil Rights, Demographics, Education, Medical — by Jane Novak at 10:01 pm on Saturday, November 8, 2008

A great article in The National dealing with enormous obstacles for disabled in Yemen.

There are no accurate figures for the number of disabled people in Yemen, or on their demographic breakdown, but the government has estimated that there were about 380,000 in 2004, a figure rights groups say is grossly underestimated.

In a conservative society such as Yemen, where women have few rights, being physically disabled is doubly difficult, said Jamalah al Baidani, the Challenge Society director. “People look at disabled women as useless and a heavy burden on their family. Some families force their disabled daughters to beg, or sell wheelchairs or hearing aids to other disabled people; some even take the money their children earn.”

Ms Baidani said lack of awareness is the main reason why society is so intolerant of people with disabilities and that removing the social stigma would take a greater contribution from the government and media.

(Read on …)

Primary School Fees Waived

Filed under: Education, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 10:07 am on Sunday, September 14, 2008

As usual implementation is another thing altogether, as the schools must be re-imbursed by the state.

Yemen Times

SANA’A, Aug. 27 — Yemen’s education minister confirmed in a statement to the Yemen Times on Tuesday that his ministry is investigating those school principals who breach its decision to eliminate primary school fees.

Last week, the Education Ministry issued a law exempting primary students from paying school fees for girls in grades 1 through 9 and boys in grades 1 through 6. The announcement comes only two weeks before the start of the 2008-2009 school year.

(Read on …)

Educational Opportunities Restricted

Filed under: Civil Unrest, Education, poverty/ hunger — by Jane Novak at 8:23 am on Monday, September 1, 2008

Yemen Times

SANA’A, Aug. 27 — An official from the General Union of Yemeni Students at Sana’a and Amran Universities has announced that following a five-day sit-in, Sana’a University’s rector has heeded the demands of protesting students.

The demands included raising the enrollment capacity, decreasing the required high school grade point average (GPA) and adding 125 seats to the public system of the Faculty of Science, all with the goal of increasing student enrollment. Sana’a University administration also has accepted registering 200 more students in the public system at its Faculty of Commerce and Economy and 300 in the parallel system. According to a statement by the General Union of Yemeni Students, university administration canceled 1,865 seats in the public system and 104 in the parallel system, thereby decreasing the university’s capacity and causing the students to protest between Aug. 19 and 25. Ridwan Masoud, head of the General Union of Yemeni Students, claims that the university is restricting access to education for less privileged students by decreasing acceptance rates in the parallel system and raising those for the public system.

(Read on …)

Three Students Arrested for Writing on Corruption

Filed under: Education, Media, Security Forces — by Jane Novak at 3:27 pm on Tuesday, August 26, 2008

but but I thought reform was good!

Sahwa Net – General Union of Yemeni Student has condemned the arrest of three students again by security forces in Ibb University after they had been released last week.

Sources of the Student Union said that the three students, Majed al-Awdi, Walid al-Laith and Walid al-Sharabi were arrested because they wrote about corruption inside the university in a paper issued by the Student Union.

Summer Camps

Filed under: Children, Education, Yemen, govt budget — by Jane Novak at 10:51 pm on Monday, June 16, 2008

YO

The government approved in its cabinet regular meeting held on Tuesday a budget of youth summer camps for 2008 and its general program to be launched on July 17th across the country.

The camps are 31 and contain 718 centers, 382 for males and 134 for females, 48 centers for educating religious duties, 30 for female scouts, 34 for vocational training, 34 for educating in computer science and languages, 58 for sports and 8 centers for university students. More than 200 thousand male and female participants will make use of these 40-day long camps.

There are also 600 centers for educating 100 thousands students on memorizing the Holy Koran in the capital Sana’a and in other governorates around the country.

Tribal Conflicts, Bandits, Lack of Infrastructure Hinder College Students Travel

Filed under: Education, Tribes, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 7:23 pm on Monday, April 28, 2008

An excellent report from Mareb Press on the difficulties facing college students in Marib

Revenges and tribal conflicts deprive Mareb students from education
Local News: Great struggle to reach colleges
Sunday 27 April 2008 / Mareb Press

Education is the right of all people. From this perspective, Mareb students start to pursue their university education despite of the tribal conflicts in the province. The persistence of the students in pursuing their university education despite the difficulties they face in transportation and traveling through the desert on foot makes you feel surprised.

At the same time, the students condemned the continual tribal conflicts of which they have become victims even if they do not belong to the parts of conflicts. So, they strongly demand to make the colleges “Hejer” respected, safe and secure places prohibited to be harmed. After they have been deprived from university education for several years, the Faculties of Education Arts and Sciences were opened two year ago to give them a hope in pursuing university education. However, students are still suffering from the tribal conflicts; in this investigation, some students will narrate the difficulties and sufferings they face in pursuing their university education.

Travel burdens and the bandits:

Saeed Al-Athel, second level, faculty of Art, Serwah district, said that they face difficulties in far distance, transportation, absence of student accommodation, laboratories and libraries in Mareb College. He said these problems made the educational process more difficult, but he confirmed that the educational atmosphere was better last year.

(Read on …)

Al-Zindani Interview

Filed under: Education, Medical, USA, Yemen, personalities — by Jane Novak at 7:15 pm on Monday, April 28, 2008

Will cure everyone with AIDS for free at al-Iman U.

from the Yemen Post

Sheikh Abdul Majeed Al-Zindani, President of Al-Eman University:
“The United States has proved to the world that it is the most oppressive nation in history. It is the country that killed two million people and displaced five million in Iraq by a lie it spread to the world. In all its accusations to its enemies, it fabricates lies and depends on its arrogance of power. The same way that it’s lie on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction was revealed, all it’s lies will be known, and its political leadership will be cursed throughout history!”

Interviewed By: Hakim Almasmari ( YEMEN POST STAFF )
Article Date: April 28, 2008 نص المقابلة باللغة العربية

Yemen Post: When was the first AIDS case that you cured with your medicine?

Sheikh Abdul Majeed Al-Zindani: Almost five years ago.

YP: Why have you not until now patent your invention?

AZ: Patenting the invention needs from us to cooperate with a strong authority and countries which can help us to protect the patent.

YP: Do AIDS patients stay under your direct supervision and under clinical examination while and after treatment?

AZ: This is an common practice imposed by the medical protocol as well as different steps which we follow. They need to stay under continuous examinations while they are being treated, and also for years to come, only to insure that no problems happen along the road. In medicine, this is a normal practice.

YP: It was announced in the media that Al-Eman University is ready to treat AIDS victims free of charge. Is that true?

AZ: Yes, we did announce to the public that we will treat anyone who has the AIDS virus free of charge. We know how expensive it is to get treatment and that is why we are ready to offer and treat patients for free.

YP: Including foreigners and non-Muslims?

AZ: Yes. Including foreigners and non-Muslims.

YP: Some people don’t know that you studied medicine. Has your background in medicine helped you in discovering the new medicine?

AZ: Yes, it helped me but in a different way. It helped me understand the sayings of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) more. It gave me the chance and ability to deeply understand the miracles of the prophet’s words, and the deep meaning behind his sayings.

(Read on …)

Saleh’s Son Ahmed Spends YR 200 Million for a School for Palestinian Girls

Filed under: Biographies, Education, Palestinians, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 8:18 pm on Saturday, April 26, 2008

It would be nice if he cared as much for Yemeni girls.

al-Motamar

Chairman of Al-Saleh social Society for Development Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh said Thursday the Foundation would soon begin building a boarding house for Palestinian girl students in Sana’a. The statement came during his inspection visit, accompanied by the Minister of Local Administration Abdulqader Ali Hillal, to Al-Saleh Charitable boarding house of Palestinian girl students in Sana’a today. He said,” Al-Saleh project for Palestinian girl students will have the capacity of accommodating 129 students of scientific specializations with a cost amounting to YR 200 million in its first stage.”

Chairman of Al-Saleh Establishment said implementation of the project aims to support Palestinian girl students and urge them towards excellence and creativity in different scientific areas and part of Yemen keenness on offering ideal care to the Palestinians living in Yemen. He also praised the interest of the Palestinian women and men in science as a first key for victory. He said the Palestinian people are considered among the most educated in the world despite of their suffering from ordeals and disasters under the occupation. Mr Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh pointed out Yemen’s firm stand of supporting the Palestinian cause and people until they get all their legitimate rights and establishment of their state on their national soil with its capital Al-Quds.

Education Minister Pressured to Give Scholarships

Filed under: Education, GPC, Reform, Yemen, Yemen-Corruption — by Jane Novak at 8:42 am on Monday, April 21, 2008

Yemen Post

Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Saleh Basurah called on dignitaries and social personalities not to exercise more pressure on state to establish new universities, hinting that any expansion in this respect does not serve the development.

Basurah hinted the existing universities have not yet set completely their infra-structure and buildings, adding that his ministry is working at the present time on the preparing higher education law draft which will be referred to the cabinet next month.

Likewise, the ministry is working on academic accreditation system and quality assurance which will be applied on both government and private universities, calling for the establishment of more community colleges instead of universities.

Meanwhile, Basurah threaten to disclose the practices of high-ranking officials and some members of parliament who exercise pressure on his ministry to distribute scholarships for those who do not deserve them and in a way that does not serve the country.

In a meeting involving the anti-corruption authority and Minister of Finance Noman Al-Suhaibi by the end of the last week, Basurah threatened to resign from his post in case he is sued for errors committed by others.

Sources pointed out that Basurah asked the anti-corruption authority to help him rid of the interferences of high-ranking officials in running his ministry’s affairs, or otherwise he would expose the secrets on any satellite channel.

For their part, the anti-corruption authority demanded Basurah to hand in the file of financial and cultural attaches abroad including the attaches of Jordan and Malaysia who failed to submit a financial disclosures.

By the end of the meeting, officials ordered withholding the allocations of all attaches who have not presented their financial disclosures. They also asked for take serious measures against those who delay the payment of students’ money together with starting payment right from the next year through the Ministry of Higher Education only.

Students Civil Rights Violated, Campuses Politicized

Filed under: Civil Unrest, Education, Military, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 9:08 am on Friday, April 18, 2008

Mareb Press

Campus patrolled by military

45 violations were recorded
Local News: Symposium on violations against Sana’a University students
Thursday 17 April 2008 / Mareb Press

The Yemen Student Union in faculty of education held Yesterday, Wednesday, a symposium outside Sana’a University after the refusal of the University Head to hold the symposium in one of the university halls.

The symposium which was described as a sit-in focused on violations against the rights and liberties of the student’. In the symposium, the university students refused the presence of the soldiers inside the university

Political Sciences Professor in Sana’a University, Abdullah al-Fakih, demanded for the independence of the universities saying there is no future for the students without the independence of the universities.

He urged the students to continue their peaceful struggle to obtain their rights and liberties warning them from violence.
“Imitating the ways and methods of the tyrant is a failure and the peaceful struggle is the goal and the solution for the independence of the university,” he added.

Dr. Mohammed al-Mekhlafy, chairman of the Yemeni Observatory Center for Human Rights, said, ” preparing the generation of the future depends on two pillars: liberty and democracy.”

At the end of the symposium, the General Student Union announced the black list of the violations against the students since 2005 in a report prepared by the committee of rights and liberties in the education faculty.

According tot the report, about 45 violations against the students were recorded; 10 violations were taken place in 2005, 13 violations in 2006, and 15 violations in 2007.

These violations were carried out by the political security (intelligences), the University security, the head of the university, the deans and the administrators of the collages, the report says.

Beatings in School Common

Filed under: Children, Civil Rights, Education, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 9:16 pm on Thursday, April 10, 2008

Yemen Post

Studies reveal that beating children in schools is not tolerated in many countries around the world as a method to control students. Yemen is one of the countries where beating is widely used to teach and educate school children.

In return, there are increased voices demanding firm laws that prohibit physical punishment against children, while some believe that light beating is sometimes necessary in order to educate children.

Female Teacher Beaten

Filed under: Civil Rights, Education, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 7:00 am on Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Al-Motamar:

Almotamar.net - Security men in the capital Sana’a on Thursday arrested two persons accused of attacking a leading member and head of the woman sector of the General People’s Congress (GPC) of the constituency 17 Ms Shafia al-SSaraji who is also member of the local council of the district as well as a school headmistress.

Head of the GPC branch of the local constituency in Shuoub district Abdulalim al-Barakani, in a statement to almotamar.net did not rule out political motives behind the attack. He also expected that the accused persons will be sent to the general prosecution in a few days and he denounced at the same time the silence of the educational sector at the district of Shuoub and the union of the educational professions in the capital about the incident.

Teachers of 17 July School had the day before yesterday staged a sit-in at the courtyard of the ministry of education in solidarity and protest to the assailing on the headmistress of the school.
The teachers demanded the immensity of education and security authorities for quick disclosure and arrest of the assailants and those who are behind them in defence of the teacher rights.
The school headmistress was beaten by a male gang on Sunday morning while she was on her way to school. The attack caused the victim several injuries at different parts of her body.

51% of Girls Not in School

Filed under: Education, Women's Issues, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 7:55 pm on Wednesday, March 12, 2008
SANAA, 9 March 2008 (IRIN) - Yemeni women, especially those living in rural areas, continue to have high illiteracy rates, insufficient medical care and face gender discrimination, specialists said at an event held in Sanaa on 8 March to mark International Women’s Day 2008.

Lack of education was seen as the driving factor behind women’s gender inequality in Yemen.

The National Women Committee (NWC), a government body, presented a draft report on the status of women at the event. Entitled Women’s Status from a Gender Perspective 2007, the report said 51 percent of girls aged 6-14 were not enrolled in elementary schools.

“This high dropout rate would represent a fertile source for illiteracy. There is no law to make education obligatory and free for all age groups,” the report said.

According to NWC, the report will soon be released officially.

The report added that the rate of enrolment for girls in elementary schools was 54 percent compared to 72 percent for boys. Linking the rate of female school dropouts to insufficient numbers of female teachers, the report said there were some 44,000 female teachers in the country compared to about 146,000 male teachers in the 2005/6 academic year.

(Read on …)

Yemenite Students Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Filed under: Education, Ministries, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 11:43 am on Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Yemenite Students Between a Rock and a Hard Place
written by Mohamed Tawfik Al-Mansouri Ph. D

The dilemma of Yemenite students has been starting and ongoing for decades. It is that have committed these vices and crimes by the tyrants’ regime with his dark, undeveloped and backward mentality. The branches of state security and military as well as civil institutions implemented these vices and crimes. Their aim and objective is to manipulate, destruct and drain the brain in order to monopolize the power and governance. They also intend to exploit and manage the national wealth randomly, obscurely and violently.

This tragedy is old and still ongoing. What has changed is there are new tools and implementations, which they used against students as well as citizens.

The strategies and mechanisms, as well as tactics used include violent oppression, as well as various forms of psychological warfare, including economic, political and social. This is done both openly and in secret. Therefore, their seasoning and poisons change as they continue to destroy the spirit and flesh.

Before and after the era of the Yemenite Imams, custody of education was banned and denied and no more modern schools or universities were built. However, in the modern-day of Republic, they have been opening the educational institutions and establishments. But, they have also been converting these important organizations into military barracks, combings and security organizations. They were managed by oppression, murder, violence, terrorism and crimes. This results in producing the same or worse qualities as before.

Both of the regimes have justified and explained their conduct to preserve the religion and law. Although, the truth is to prevent and prohibit understanding, and the giving of citizens their civil rights, as well as claiming on the urbanization. Therefore, they have been destroying the mind, which is their main purpose.
For instance, in the republican era of the 1970’s, the methods and styles of killing, murdering and assassinating evolved and increased. They practiced numerous crimes, including detention and house arrest, pursuit, harassment and killing. As a result of that, students emigrated, were killed or imprisoned, become disabled or committed suicide, or lost their mental health. The regime claimed that all of these things have been done to protect the religion, which is originally lost and damaged.

The regime still believes that science and knowledge are dangerous things and their first enemy, so they fabricate and prepared the accusations for liberals, intellectuals and cadres. For example, they accuse them that they are the ally of global socialism on Arab and Islamic systems, so they accuse them of national and humanitarian treason, in addition they accused them of religious treason, therefore, they consulted the religious people to have the permission of killing them. Then, they judged them and killed them due to the yuppies protocols of darkness. They killed them, aiming to stop the wheel of development and the preservation of the minority interests and their selfishness and aggressive authority.

The situation has not improved at the end of the 1970’s, 1980’s or after the theoretical unifying the country, which was announced on May 22, 1990. So, they used the students as black sheep in civil wars or wars against the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen. Their aim was to eliminate them because they carried the light and education as well as that they are from the Al-Hojaria region or Taiz or central regions. By doing so, they protect the army because most of the army is from Zaidiyyah tribes. This act is the omnipotent proof of their racism, crime and brutality.

This dilemma of students’ problems involves racial and sectarian nature inherent in the mind of the obscurantist. Their future plans for the students is for calamity because the students’ sin that they are the lovers of science, knowledge and life with its virtues, and because they are prophets and messengers of civilization, justice and equality.

The quantity and quality of scholarship is distributed for associates and affiliates, far from the standard of honest competition, rates and skills. What remains is distributed to the students to eliminate them from the country for a period of up to four or five years, in order to lose their productive and active age. Then, they return after graduation to the dark judgments of being baath, socialist, nationalist or islamist or imperialist or other accusations for leaving the country or facing the death. These accusations, which are trumped up and fabricated , are used to ban the educated from being involved in the system. They eliminate them of participation in decision-making. Despite that, the state soldiers, army units and rulers have relations and cooperation with the Russians, the Arabs and the Americans among others. In addition, the state does not possess or consider of real developmental programmes.

The problems of removing the salaries and scholarships of the students is a deliberated case and also part of terrible, frightening, and brutal corruption, which is widespread in the state’s institutions and appears not only at schools, ministries, institutions of education but also in the Ministry of Finance, Foreign Affairs, embassies and other government’s organs apparatuses associated with mentioned organizations.

A bribe is necessary in the regime and is a part of its behaviour and doctrine. The exploitation of positions is easy and natural, so the regime gains money and it protects only its individual interests. It also assaults the rights by looting and banditry, where salaries, scholarships and fees of students are deposited in foreign banks for three months and their benefits go for gangs in the diplomatic corps in embassies. It also cuts off a small amount e.g. two dollars from each student. They explain that the exchange rates of the dollar against the riyal are in change. This is disgraced work, because the salaries of students sent reinforcements to the embassies of the full amount, and the announced information to students according to a law of Education and Higher Education Ministries under the issue of foreign mission said to payment of scholarships in American Dollars and in advance.

We also see the corruption and inequality that there are students that have four salaries and they are delegated from more than one ministry. On the other hand, we observe students drop proceedings under the omission or defect in the computer, the case omissions and imbalance lasts for three or four years.

The policy of cutting off students’ or the staff salaries is a statement that is taken from the proverb hunger you dog he follows you. Further more, before you became attacked you should start your attack in order to stop them of asking and struggling for their civil rights and providing the equality and equitable distribution of wealth for all, as well as stopping students from participation in decision-making. Hence, full surrounding is a duty under the principle attacked before they are preparing for confrontation.

The objective of starvation also is a psychological preparation to create new conditions to extort students and use them for inhuman jobs. In addition, to sell them in the local, regional and international slave market. The Yemenite modern system based on begging and trading land, honour and rights. They sell themselves and he who sells himself is easy for him to sell others under the slogans of parties or tribes or national and international cooperation.

Sales and piracy reached even for children, the God’s loved, and the sale of the governor for himself, his groups and citizens are done in different ways according to their laws they legalize everything, so, there are spiritual, physical and psychological sale. They are specialist and expert in this field, moreover; they have implementations. The most important thing for them is money.

Their ignorance and stupidity make them blind to see the wealth in the land and people, and they do not know how to manage them to benefit from its’ eggs, milks, fruits and brains. So they sell the expensive things to earn the cheaper, which is the money, which they spend it for their selfish purpose. By this behaviour, attitude and mentality all is lost.

Recently, they cut off and banned the students from their scholarships as well as jobs and privileges and they distributed and gave only for those who want to give. They kill students by their hands as well as across international criminal mafias. Hence, many students have disappeared or lived without any human emotional feelings. The condition of students is a tragedy in abroad and inside the country. They are in between a rock and a hard place. Where does your train drive and lead science, the homeland and us?

The followed solutions by the corrupt regime are a palliative for a short time by sending delegates from the ministries for disguising. Nobody gains anything from the followed procedures of solving the dilemma of student except the delegates, who benefit from travel allowance, the leeway and spend their objectives. Finally, they declare through their false media that the problem is solved and they eliminate corruption and spoilers. Although the solutions must begin at home and no need for traveling, the delegates from the ministries are the useless people of knowledge and science and are gainless and deadly.

I am neither pessimistic nor optimistic, but pessoptimist, and when the train starts working for the establishment the state of institutions and law my optimism will achieve the optimum and maximum.

There is nothing good comes by the unfair and corrupt as well as their institutions. For instance, in the embassies there are diplomats, who are murderers and the government protect them, they are fugitive from other tribes, because the revenge is a legal things in the state. In addition, embassies is full of sorts of whom are blind, prostitutes and thieves, who believe in the doctrine of vice. This is the same-called technocrat from the ruling and those who are illegal investments internationally and dealing with other nations Mafiosi. They fled laundering and criminals in the eyes of the world and even mafias. They become with their nations money in a history and in dilemma. Certainly, the end such these groups are the dustbin of history.

Problems after graduation are harsher and worse than before graduation. Some of absolvents had harm and hard life, so few of them immigrate and most of them accept inappropriate jobs, which are not related to their level of education, morality and ethics. When the absolvents morally fall, they become psychologically able to do anything and become acceptable be the authority too, unless he will be thrown into unknown determination to face million harmful obstacles as well as brutal and wild characters.
To homeland, students, scientists and citizens the almighty God says “help one another in goodness and piety, and do not help one another in sin and aggression”. We do not have any choice except fighting and struggling. Both ways are the best thing for the emancipation of where we are, and God and humanitarian law gives us the rights to proceed.

Brother, sons and, friend, student, professor’s partners, farmers and workers we should in solidarity working together to better ourselves and homeland. My brother student in life and path you need only to demand full rights for yourself as human beings and citizens. If your only demand for salary and scholarship it is what the corrupt authority wants, and it is not going to give you it or deliberate and debate with you of it. So, demand your full rights to get a part of it. Finally, you must hitch you wagon to a star, stand up with the voice of the people, which is the voice of God and strike while the iron is hot.

Brother, student and teacher this is your case and it is in your hands to absorb and understand it. If you believe in what it contents then, you should spread and distribute it to all Yemenite students in the World as well as to students’ unions, federations and associations of Arab World and the globe. In addition to international human rights organizations. This is the first step in the journey of a thousand miles.

Yemeni Teachers Ask for USD 7,000 Annual Salary

Filed under: Education, Unions, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 11:08 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2008

Yemen Times

SANA’A, Feb 20 — The Yemeni Teachers Syndicate and the Syndicate of Educational Professions released a statement calling for all Yemeni teachers to stage a one day sit-in on Tuesday, February 26, to force the government to raise their salaries.

The call for the sit-in came on Monday, after the extension to the negotiating period ended.

The statement said that the government had not responded to teachers’ demands to raise their annual wages within the month. The two syndicates decided to call for nationwide peaceful sit-ins. The statement indicated that while the government procrastinates from meeting the rights of the employees, claiming it is unable to curb the price hikes, it continues to operate as usual. The statement mentioned that the government neither appreciates the nature of teaching nor the significance of the teacher, who is the cornerstone of education. “This negligence has led to the constant decline in the quality of education,” said the statement.

The syndicates demanded that the government give teachers a 60 to 110 percent raise in their standing basic salaries, including YR 130,000 ($600) a month in back pay beginning from the middle of 2007, and release the annual bonuses suspended by a governmental decision in 2005.

The statement also asked the government to provide rural living expenses for the teachers who teach in rural areas, in accordance with the teachers’ law.

Moreover, the syndicates requested that local and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other syndicates sit in solidarity with the teachers. This is not the first sit-in organized by the Yemeni Teachers Syndicate. Last year the syndicate arranged many sit-ins and protests with the same demand of raising salaries. The protests forced the government to adopt a new strategy to deal with the demands, promising to raise teachers’ salaries. “The government has not made radical solutions for the teachers’ problems but limited ones. It gives teachers very small salary increases, which are nothing at all in proportion to the price hikes. In addition, the increases are always subject to many fines and taxes,” commented Ahmed Al-Rabahi, head of the Teachers’ syndicate

He added that the maximum salary for teachers according to the law is YR 160,000, and they are asking for YR130,000, which will come to YR 70,000 after taxes and insurance are deducted. In addition, Al-Rabahi believes the numerous strikes last year in many different governorates could oblige the government to pay the teacher bonuses and back pay.

Isamail Zaidan, general manager of information for the Ministry of Education, refused to comment, while personnel manager Faisal Jameel couldn’t be reached.

Abdulaziz Murshed, father of a student, supported the teachers in their demands, but at the same time is worried about his son and the other students. “I’m sure that teachers have the right to stage a sit-in because their salaries are too low due to the unbelievable price hikes. Also, every increase they get is preceded by two or three price hikes and followed by another two or three. But though they have the right to protest, students will be affected and I’m worried about that,” Murshed said.

Schools with no toilets

Filed under: Children, Education, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 8:16 pm on Monday, February 4, 2008

Yemen Times

As of 2006, 75 percent of Yemeni children were enrolled in primary school, according to UNICEF’s December 2007 Children’s Progress report.

Over the past few years, Yemen’s Education Ministry has constructed as many schools as possible nationwide. As Education Minister Abdulsalam Al-Jawfi explains, “The number of schools built annually increased from 200 to 1,200. There are 16,000 schools in Yemen, 80 percent of which contain primary education classes.”

However, according to the minister, the dropout rate increased 10 percent, particularly among female students.

Al-Zubairi School teacher Ismail Zabarah says students drop out for a variety of reasons, including poverty, lack of incentives and the poor quality of the education system. “Students drop out if the school is far from their home or there aren’t enough teachers,” he notes, adding, “They also drop out due to poverty and the need to work.”

“The government built neighborhood schools three years ago, but that’s not enough,” says Jamal Al-Azab from the Khawlan countryside. “Schools may be near three or four villages, but far from two others. Because we can’t provide our children vehicles to pick them up from school every day, we really need more schools,” he adds.

Dropouts begin in fourth grade, when 10 percent of girls leave school and from there, the rate increases in each grade. Minister Al-Jawfi explains that Yemeni families, especially those in smaller villages, often refuse to send their daughters to school when they reach age 11, the age when girls cease interacting with males. Villages have no girls-only schools and mixed schools have male teachers.

IN the health section of the same issue:

Most of Sana’a’s approximately 270 public schools have no toilets, while those that do are in such unhygienic conditions that neither students nor teachers can use them. Further, at least six to eight schools within the capital’s eight public school districts have no bathrooms at all. At best, Sana’a public schools have three to six toilets for every 4,000 to 5,000 students, but without soap, water and a clean toilet, these bathrooms aren’t fit for student use.

The capital city’s public schools handle between 430,000 and 450,000 students, most of whom are elementary students, while school attendance for those under age 12 increases 10 to 15 percent annually.

According to an international study by the World Health Organization, schools should have one toilet for every 100 students. With both public and private schools in Sana’a averaging 5,000 students, instead of the 20 to 30 toilets required at each school, there are none at all….

No room for schools, no room for toilets

(Read on …)

Univerisity Suspends Security Head and Investigates Assaults

Filed under: Civil Rights, Education, Military, Security Forces, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 9:11 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2008

That’s a good development. Soldiers on the campus may be replaced with civil security forces.

Yemen Times

SANA’A, Jan. 13 — Sana’a University agreed with the General Union of Yemeni Students to suspend security guard head Col. Ahmed Khosrouf, and his officers from their work on Saturday.

According to the student union head, this is the first time in the history of the university and the union that a high-ranking officer at the university was suspended. It is also the first time in which a civil committee investigated security administration.

According to a statement by the union, the suspension came after a sit-in by teachers and students at the yard of the Faculty of Arts last Saturday, protesting the attack of two students at the faculty by security three times.

In addition, the university president agreed to prepare a way for replacing military security with civil security personnel. However, this has yet to be endorsed by the Ministry of the Interior. Furthermore, the rector of Sana’a University promised that security authorities will not interfere in the work in the investigative committee that was formed to investigate the attacks against Jamil and Murad Subaie. Moreover, the union agreed with the university to add Abdulhakeem Nour Al-Deen to the investigative committee as a representative of the teachers syndicate. As a result, the union decided to reopen its work in the investigative committee after suspending Khasrouf and his officers.

According to Jamil Subaie, he and his brother were exposed to security attacks on three occasions. The first was on October 30, when he was taking a questionnaire from a female classmate. “One of the security guards came to me and started cursing me, though I was talking to her in front of many people. Then he threw a bottle at me and took his pistol, threatening to murder me,” Jamil explained.

The second attack took place on Dec. 12, when Khasrouf and other officers beat Jamil and his brother Murad under the pretext that Murad’s hair was long; Jamil claimed that “they wanted to give him a hair cut.”

The third attack occurred on Jan. 5 when security guards prevented Jamil’s sister from entering the faculty to submit his CV, and tried to beat her.

The investigative committee formed Jamil and Murad were attacked for the third time is composed of the vice rector of the university for student affairs, the general manager of legal affairs at the university, the head and general secretary of the Students’ Union, the vice dean of student affairs at the Arts Faculty and a representative from the University Teachers Syndicate.

Al-Jasheen Sheik Detains Teachers

Filed under: Education, Tribes, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 11:10 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2008

Nothing changed since the sheik expelled the villagers, nothing.

Al-Sahwa:

January 8, 2008- Yemeni Sheikh, Mohammad Ahmed Mansor, has arrested two teachers while they were performing their duties at al-Jaashin district.

In a letter to the governor of Ibb province, the teacher, Taher Musra said that Mansour’s gunmen raided the school he along with his brother, Faisal work at, arrested them before their students and put them in incommunicado detention.

In the letter, Taher said that he knows nothing about his detained brother.

He further explained that Sheikh wanted to capture documents of their own land and when they refused, he ordered his gunmen to arrest them.

It is worth reclaiming that Sheikh Mansour had banished months ago hundreds of citizens as they rejected to pay him illegal taxes.

Population Explosion in Yemen

Filed under: Children, Education, Religious, Women's Issues, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 9:50 pm on Sunday, December 23, 2007

I’ve seen estimates of 50 million by 2050, but that may be based on optimum reproduction rates. If things stay the way they are, apparently its 90 million by 2045. But thats what happens when girls get married at 14 and have an average of seven kids.

SANA’A, Dec. 15 — In the Fourth National Conference for Population Policy, held under the theme, “Toward further implementation of a population policy,” participants stressed the necessity of providing family planning and reproductive health services in all health care centers.

Some of the papers reviewed warned against the risk of increased population growth, indicating that UN estimates show that if population growth in Yemen continues to increase at the present rate, the population will increase from its current 22.4 million to 29.9 million in 2015, then to 43 million in 2025, 62 million in 2035 and 90 million in 2045, finally reaching 108.6 million in 2050. However, the reports mentioned that if Yemen achieves the national population policy goals, estimated population growth will decline by 7 million in 2025, 16 million in 2035, and 49 million in 2050, accomplishing a balance between population growth and available resources and allowing Yemen to achieve its millennium objectives.

Studies also indicated that the annual 3 percent population growth rate is one of the key challenges facing development efforts. They also showed that Yemen is categorized as one of the least developed countries in human resource, ranked 174 out of 184 countries. According to the studies, poverty levels have progressively increased, from 19 percent in 1992 to 34 percent in 1999, and lastly 34.4 percent in 2005.

They also advised utilizing resolutions of free of charge health care units in addition to family planning consultations, encouraging women to breastfeed babies naturally, and increasing efforts to increase society awareness about prenatal care.

(Read on …)

Education

Filed under: Education, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 9:13 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Yet another good report from IRIN

SANAA, 27 November 2007 (IRIN) - Abdu Rabou Mohsen al-Shahali, 13, has been working as a street vendor in Sanaa since he left his village in Hajjah Province four years ago.

“My father decided to stay at home after losing hope finding a good job. He had been variously employed as a farmer, a qat [mild narcotic] seller, and a porter but none of these jobs provided enough money to sustain our family. We left him there and came to Sanaa in search of a better life,” he said.

The child worker said he was determined to support his mother and two younger brothers at all costs. “It is a shame if I let my mother work while I am alive. It is better to have bread and water than send my mother and brothers to beg,” he said.

Yemeni education officials are concerned about the increasing rate of school dropouts, which they say have led to increasing illiteracy rates.

According to the Ministry of Education’s Comprehensive School Survey for 2006, 46 percent of Yemen’s 7.4 million primary school age children do not attend school – leaving 3,971,853 in primary school. Altogether, 4,497,643 of children of all ages attend school.

(Read on …)

Taiz Teachers Transfered for Protesting

Filed under: Civil Rights, Education, GPC, Ministries, Targeting, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 9:02 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Just like after the elections, punitive measures follow the expression of civil rights, demonstrating that the state bureaucracies, which should be apolitical, are rather an arm of the ruling party.

Al-Sahwa: November 26, 2007 – National Committee for Rights and Freedoms (HOOD) denounced transfer of 20 teachers from their schools in the wake of their participation in a protest held in Taiz province.

HOOD’s member, Twafiq al-Shoaibi, said that such arbitraries are illegal and lawless, aiming to deprive those teachers from their rights.

Hadramout Teachers Rep Fired by University Head

HADRAMOUT, Nov. 18 — Teaching staff at Hadramout University of Science and Technology have begun raising warnings, demanding the university administration meet their demands, which include applying the Law of Yemeni Universities at their university. They further demand administrative and academic reforms at the university.

The problem began Aug. 29 when the administrative board of the university’s teaching staff syndicate released a statement claiming 16 rights and demands by teaching staff. However, university Rector Ahmad Omar Bamashmous did not respond to their demands.

After their statement’s release, the teaching staff syndicate said it would escalate the situation through a partial strike. This dissatisfied Bamashmous, who considered such action an assault against the university.

Moreover, the protestors say their demands are not about money; rather, they simply demand reforming the academic and administrative board.

In an effort to resolve the problem, Bamashmous accused the syndicate of escalating the political situation in that region, alleging that they are related to protestors in Yemen’s southern governorates.

The problem worsened when Bamashmous called for the university council meeting, at which he removed the syndicate’s legally-elected representative.

However, the syndicate claimed the meeting was illegitimate, demanding the meeting’s minutes be cancelled. Despite the intervention of the governor, Bamashmous refused to meet the syndicate’s demands, for which the syndicate threatens to escalate the situation they remain unmet.

Politicized Campus

Filed under: Civil Rights, Civil Unrest, Education, Targeting, Yemen, political violence — by Jane Novak at 10:05 am on Monday, November 26, 2007

This is a good article on an area lacking documentation: YT

Political activities at Sana’a University affect student performance. As a result, fighting has broken out among students many times, including reported shooting incidents. A report by Amel Al-Ariqi, Fatima Al-Ajel and Al-Miqdad Mojalli.

Political Security arrested Amin Al-Faqih in 2003 for conducting political activities at Sana’a University.

At that time, Al-Faqih was head of the General Union of Yemeni Students, known as GUYS, while being a level four student in the university’s Faculty of Languages. He also belonged to Islah, Yemen’s largest opposition political party.

(Read on …)

Teachers Protest in Ibb

Filed under: Civil Unrest, Education, Ministries, Reform, Unions, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 10:57 am on Sunday, November 25, 2007

Yemen Observer:

IBB - The Yemeni Teachers Syndicate in Ibb organized a huge sit-in demanding the implementation of the wages codes on Wednesday, November 21st. Protestors, from across the province gathered in front of the governorate building.

The sit-in lasted about two hours from 9:00am until 11:00 am, during which time several speeches were delivered by representatives of the YTS. Protestors chanted slogans which bear witness to their complaints; “Oh, government of corruption a hike of prices has prevailed all over the country”, “Oh, government of despair, where is the increase in wages, the government is on the TV, in reality, there is no achievement. Oh, minister, oh Jawfi, to hear hunger is enough, Oh, Minister, Oh, Mojawer, don’t denounce or deny our rights.”

In a statement, the protestors demanded the release of the second phase of the wages law beginning July 2006, the third phase from July 2007 according to the 43rd item of law for 2005, and the release of allowances, bonuses and salaries held back for years to be paid in cash to all government employees, since this was agreed to in this year’s budget, and YR82 billion was set aside for this purpose.

They also demanded the maximum increase of the second phase (YR100,000), the third phase (YR130,000), and the beginning of a financial connection for degrees to be re-allocated evenly and fairly among employees.

With reference to the bonuses, they demanded the granting of the bonus to all who deserve it, as of July 2005 until August 2006, and the bonus for educationalists in general to be at a rate between 60-110 percent, depending on one’s qualifications. This is according to documentation signed by three syndicates - YTS, GUTEP and UTP - and the ministry of education committee on July 31st, 2006.

They also demanded bonuses for instructors, administrators, teachers of the Qura’n and all those who have been deprived of this right in the education, health, engineering and other sectors. They demanded the rural exchange allowance be paid retrospectively to all staff in rural areas who have been deprived of this right. They also demanded the return of sums illegally deducted from salaries in October under false names and the investigation and trial of those responsible.

“These are our fair and clear demands, they are the demands of all teachers, male and female, in the ruling party or in the opposition, from all schools of the Republic. These rights are for all, they have nothing to do with policy and, for the purpose of quick implementation, we announce the launching of the new phase of peaceful legal activities for this year, as in the other governorates of the Republic,” said Abdussalam al-Khudairy, secretary general of the YTS. “We are within our legal rights to escalate the means of protests and demonstrations, and to strike from work if required,” he added.

He also mentioned a list of abuses that the teachers were exposed to due to their participation in the sit-in, and asked teachers to report any arbitrary action, stating that the SYT would support and stand-by those who were subject to unfair treatment.

The rally was conducted in a very peaceful, democratic way in which opinions were expressed freely. The protestors also thanked security men for their cooperation, stating, “Soldiers, Army, we have something in common - the love of living.”

Girls Education

Filed under: Education, Women's Issues, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 10:51 am on Sunday, November 25, 2007

al-Motamar

almotamar.net - Deputy Education Minister Dr Abdulaziz Bin Habtour said Tuesday that 40% pupils in Yemen is still outside school and that constitutes an additional burden on the ministry of education in its policy for expanding education and spread and for providing educational services in all parts of the country especially the rural areas.

In a meeting he held in Sana’a today with leadership of the ministry and representatives of donor organisations the official pointed out the necessity of joining all official, political parties and civil society organisations forces for the encouragement of joining education as education is considered the responsibility of all.

In the meeting held on the sidelines of Education for All Week Bin Habtour said the ministry was able to reduce the gap between males and females through the rise in girls joining of education from 34- 62% besides training of 100 thousand teachers and intensification of programmes and activities aimed to meet Yemen’s commitments to providing education for all by the year 2010 through abolishing school duties, providing female teachers to the countryside and increasing allocations for school nutrition that is expected to lead to raising the rate of joining the public education among girls.
The meeting also listened to remarks and suggestions made by members of the national committee on education for all and donor organisations and countries that aimed to reach successful solutions for the development and progress of education in Yemen.

Rally in Dhalie

Filed under: Civil Unrest, Education, South, Tribes, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 10:47 am on Sunday, November 25, 2007

In massive rally, former soldiers protests in Al-Dhalie

Al-Sahwa

November 24, 2007 - The Military Retiree Association arranged on Saturday a massive rally in which citizens from various southern participated.

In the rally attended by former commanders, ambassadors and parliamentarians, the head of MRA, Abdul-Maatari, delivered a speech in which he affirmed that their case is just rights, not any other issue, asking to immediately release all detainees imprisoned due to their peaceful demands.

Rally in Abyan:

ABYAN, NewsYemen

Thousands of people rallied Sunday in Loder of Abyan, south of Yemen, to continue protests against the delay of the government to meet some requests and release activists arrested in previous demonstrations in southern provinces, warning to extend protests.

“Thousands of people from Loder, Modia, al-Wade and Mokaires have participated in this rally organized by political and social organizations to ask for the immediate release of 21prisoners from al-Dalei, Aden and Hadramout” the political activist Ahmad al-Qame told NewsYemen.

Al-Qamei said local authorities announced an alter Saturday and threatened to arrest lead personalities who encourage such marches. He pointed that the Joint Meeting Parties do not take part in these activities because they do not agree with slogans some political and social organizations raise.

Local authorities accuse some lead figures in southern provinces of encouraging such protests which result in insecurity and attacks on shops and properties.

Ali al-Saadi, from the Military Pensioners Association, warning that other province might witness more demonstrations until the authorities meet requests. “Today is the deadline for authorities to do, he said.

Al-Qame condemned the prevention of al-Jazeera space channel to cover the event.

Special sources told NewsYemen the cameraman of al-Jazeera was detained from the early morning on Sunday for hours to prevent him from covering the rally.

Hundreds of jobless graduates raised their certificates asking the authorities to fulfill promises of president Saleh to eliminate unemployment. They carried placards saying that the number of jobless in the province reached 8000 graduates registered in the civil service ministry since years.

The protesters said the graduates of Abyan have been prevented to join military and security academies since 13 years. They also demanded the trial of persons who killed three protesters last September and to get “all prisoners over peaceful demonstrations released”.

Meanwhile, teachers in Serwah area of Marib started a sit-in on Sunday protesting the delay to pay them for last October. They asked for their payments with some extra the government promised to pay on October.

They called teachers all over the country to strike until meeting their requests.

Then there’s the tribal alliance rally where Hussain al-Ahmar urges tribesmen to obey their sheiks.

Yemen Times

AMRAN, Nov. 18 — The Hashid Tribe held a huge public rally on Saturday for its people in Amran’s Khamer District, 50 km northwest of Sana’a. Attended by more than ten thousand people from the Hashid and other loyal tribes, the rally is the first of its kind for the tribe, the second largest in Yemen after the Bakeel tribe.

During the rally, named the ‘broader meeting for Hashid tribesmen’, Parliament member (MP) Hussein Abdullah Al-Ahmar welcomed the attendees who came from different parts of the tribe to participate in the meeting. Al-Ahmar considered the meeting a new peaceful revolution to reform the situations and infringements which, according to him, are symptomatic of poor government policies.

“Yemen is undergoing serious difficulties due to the failed policies pursued by the government,” Al-Ahmar said, reminding attendees of his father’s statement at the Islah Party’s Third Conference, that ‘Yemen is passing through a gloomy tunnel.’ He pointed out that corruption has become rampant in all the government offices, and therefore has permeated every house and family in the nation, adding that such a destructive phenomenon has spread to judicial, education and health sectors.

The tribal leader, who chairs the National Solidarity Council (NSC), went on to say, “If we want to continue the march toward a modern and strong Yemen, the Yemeni people must understand that the country’s problems will never be solved without a nationwide struggle. Today, Yemen is threatened by secession and fragmentation, which the corrupt regime is responsible for.”

(Read on …)

Electoral Violations Against Women

Filed under: Civil Rights, Education, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 7:12 pm on Friday, November 23, 2007

But but what happened to free and fair?

Yemen Times

SANA’A, Nov. 20 — A symbolic court verdict came out last Monday to oblige the President, Prime Minister, and Parliament to allocate a 30% quota for women’s representation in the political sphere. The verdict stated that gender equality should be enforced, in line with a constitutional article that sanctions equality between men and women. Additionally, the verdict emphasized the importance of amending all discriminatory legislative provisions against women. Moreover, it urged the relevant parties to encourage women, help them become more involved in elections, and ensure that there is 30% quota for women in the national lists of all political parties’ nominations in the 2009 Parliamentary elections. Furthermore, the verdict determined that female candidates should be economically empowered to participate effectively in the democratic process.

(Read on …)

Teachers Get Their Overdue “Nature of Work” Allowance

Filed under: Civil Unrest, Education, Employment, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 1:05 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Also the transfered teachers get an allowance

Aden Education spends overdue allowances
Tuesday, 20-November-2007
almotamar.net - Assistant Secretary General of the General Educational Professions Union in Yemen Abdullah al-Qubati said Tuesday the government issued lists of overdue job nature allowance of education employees in Aden governorate amounting to 875 persons, including school inspectors and those who have been considered as teachers, pursuant to approvals of Aden governorate.

In a statement to almotamar.net al-Qubati said the payment of the allowance will be spent with the salary of the month of this November. He pointed out that the union was working currently on contacting the ministry of civil service to issue legal opinion on dues of differences of salaries as beginning from September 2006 until November 2007.

He has also said the union is holding contacts with the ministry of finance concerning reduction and increment of teachers transferred among the governorates of Yemen whose number amounts to 2424 cases in order to be granted job nature allowance where they are presently working.

Malaysian Embassy

Filed under: Education, Ministries, Yemen — by Jane Novak at 8:35 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2007

Embassy corruption is rampant. Al-Motamar:

almotamar.net - The cultural attaché office at the Yemeni embassy in Malaysia on Saturday warned Malaysian universities and institutes from dealing with any illegal side claiming its representation of Yemeni students in Malaysia without having authorisation from the cultural attaché office.

The warning came after 15 Yemeni students affiliated to Islamic Islah party has on Friday gathered in front of the building of the Yemeni embassy in Malaysia alleging their representation of all Yemeni students there.

In a statement to almotamar.net the cultural attaché at the embassy Sultan al-Shuaibi denied the existence of any open sit-ins at the building of the embassy. Investigations revealed that some students at the Multimedia University requested the university to not addressing the embassy regarding university fees and to leave the matter for them because the embassy, as they claimed, would not respond but to the way of pressure, although the embassy has already transferred the duties of students to the university.

Also students in Egypt:

Thursday, 15-November-2007
almotamar.net - Well-informed sources on