Arabic version: الأطفال اليمنيون يتخلون عن التعليم من أجل البقاء

Thousands of children in Yemen are dropping out of school to work, as families struggle to meet basic living expenses. Qasim, a 14-year-old boy, spends his days collecting plastic bottles to help support his family. He can earn up to 1,500 Yemeni riyal, approximately $3, for a full sack of bottles, which he uses to buy lunch for his six-member household. His younger brother Asem, aged 12, takes over the collection in the evening to cover dinner costs.

According to Al Jazeera, many families in Yemen view education as a luxury they cannot afford. Qasim recounts that he stopped attending school in the fourth grade in 2024 to help provide for his family, echoing a sentiment shared by many parents who prioritize immediate financial needs over long-term educational benefits.

The ongoing conflict in Yemen has led to an estimated 3.2 million school-aged children being out of school, with 1.5 million displaced children facing the risk of permanent dropout. The war has significantly altered parental attitudes toward education, with many fathers no longer feeling guilty about their children working instead of studying.

Experts warn that this shift could have dire consequences for the future of these children. Mahmoud al-Bukari, an academic, emphasizes that forcing children into the workforce undermines their long-term prospects and contributes to broader social and economic issues. He and others advocate for the right to education, highlighting that depriving children of schooling is a violation of their human rights.

The educational infrastructure in Yemen has also suffered greatly, with over 2,400 schools either destroyed, partially damaged, or being used for other purposes. Teachers, many of whom have not been paid for years, face overwhelming challenges, leading to a decline in the quality of education. Fatima Saleh, a teacher in Sanaa, notes that the neglect of educators exacerbates the dropout crisis, as disillusioned students seek alternatives to the classroom. The cycle of poverty and lack of education continues to perpetuate the challenges faced by Yemen’s youth.