By Fakhri Al-Arashi
Saada College is the only higher education institute in Saada Governorate. The college had been operating with a modest infrastructure, providing undergraduate education to more than 5,200 students from inside and outside the governorate. However, the college was turned into a pile of twisted metal and broken concrete slabs during the ongoing conflict in Yemen since March 2015.
Approaching the vicinity of the college, you can see the destruction everywhere. A blend of concrete materials, books and equipment are scattered all over the facility yard. The college’s study halls, buildings and mosque are either completely destroyed or severely damaged. There are no signs of life there. Only one guard living in a small room within the college walls, fearing for his life. The place became another cemetery, which Saada is well-known with.
Moreover, the college also faces significant challenges. The shortage of financial resources is impeding the college from resuming its services, building new study halls, rehabilitating its partially damaged buildings and purchasing the necessary equipment. Sooner or later, the conflict in Yemen will come to an end. However, the students of Saada College will not be able to return back and resume their education unless their college is completely rehabilitated.
While education is an essential human right, the ongoing conflict has caused significant damage to the country’s education system. According to the humanitarian actors in the country, 1.8 million children- which accounts for more than a third of the school age population- have had their education interrupted. The United Nations also says that more than 1,100 schools have been closed, either by direct damage or because they are being occupied by displaced people.
As the conflict continues unabated in Yemen, there is an urgent need to assist the country to establish and provide the minimum proper environment for continued education. Education is very critical to solve issues such as poverty, conflict, unemployment and inequality, which are widespread in Yemen and were significantly exacerbated by the ongoing conflict. To ensure accelerated development in the post conflict era, the country will require a long-term strategy and greater support.
Source: National Yemen, Edited by Website Team
