Arabic version: معلمو اليمن يواجهون أزمة الرواتب والوظائف المتعددة

Teachers in Yemen have faced intermittent and low payments – and in some cases none at all – for years as a result of the country’s war and economic situation. Many educators, like Mohammed Salem, are forced to juggle multiple jobs to make ends meet, often working from morning until night and earning significantly less than they did a decade ago.

According to Al Jazeera, the rapid devaluation of the Yemeni riyal has left teachers struggling to provide for their families. Mohammed, a teacher with 31 years of experience, has taken on jobs in private schools and hotels, earning only about $130 a month compared to $320 a decade ago.

The ongoing conflict in Yemen has severely impacted the education sector, with many teachers receiving no salaries since late 2016. The Houthis, who control Yemen’s densely populated central and northern highlands, have not paid public sector salaries since late 2016, when the internationally recognised government relocated the central bank from Sanaa to the southern city of Aden. The Yemeni government has also failed to raise public sector wages or pay them regularly, citing dwindling revenues due to Houthi attacks on oil facilities.

With around 193,668 teachers receiving no pay, many have resorted to drastic measures to survive. Some families are skipping meals and cutting out essential food items, while others have taken on additional work. Teachers have also protested to demand better wages, but the government’s response has been insufficient, with only modest incentives approved in some provinces.

As the crisis deepens, the future of education in Yemen hangs in the balance, with millions of children deprived of their right to learn and teachers struggling to support their families.