Challenges of Accessing University Education in Yemen

Regardless of where you are from, education in every country has its country-specific challenges. Similarly, here in Yemen, we are faced with some of the same challenges to a certain degree. I would like to first give some details on a few changes that the nation has gone through in the general education sector.

Overview of education numbers in Yemen

For the past number of decades, the government of Yemen as well as the International Development Association has played a major role in increasing not only access to, but also the quality of, educational services in Yemen. The key achievements that have been seen are the development of the learning structure at each and every one of the levels, which has led to reduction, by half, of the illiteracy rate to 45% from 90%.

Major challenges faced

Inasmuch as the illiteracy rate was reduced by half over the past several decades, many obstacles still remain that also cause a breach in realization of the Millennium Development Goal.

Some of the major challenges that have caused this gap include:

The country’s large populace growth
Extensive  poverty
Gender inequality

Gender inequality is a key issue in Yemen. With a considerably smaller number of girls than boys enrolling in school, many of the girls tend to be much older and the majority quit before completing basic education. This is then directly proportional to the low number of girls that can then enroll to university at the end of their secondary education.

Other challenges that cause major obstacles for the smooth progress of campus education include:

Gender biased enrolment

The considerable lack of female instructors is one of the major contributors that result in the low number of female students enrolled in the schools or the retention of the same. This aspect is particularly evident in higher levels as parents may not approve of male teachers instructing their daughters.

Lack of attendance by teachers

The high number of absent teachers who ought to instruct the students poses a major problem. There is need for accountability on the part of the hired teachers.
Lack of equipment

Insufficient education supplies are other challenges faced in the expansion of quality learning in Yemen.

Disconnect in students’ learning experience

The low quality of scholar’s knowledge achievement and inability of the students to implement what they learn in a classroom to what the corporate market demands. This is partly because of the use of traditional methods of teaching instead of employing learning outside the box techniques. It is therefore imperative that the schools come up with better and up-to-date strategies of studies to ensure that the students acquire not just head-knowledge but also practical education that they can use beyond the classroom.

Lack of early training in IT use

Lack of exposure to IT and technology at an earlier age thus a struggle for students to catch up in their university study. With consideration to the direction that the world is going, it’s clear to note that technology has a major role in not only for instructing the students but also communication worldwide.

If only the government as well as we, the citizens of this country could try and rectify some of problems that we have played a role in, our education system could improve considerably. There are always sacrifices to be made if we want a change. The truth is, if we keep doing what we’ve always done, we will always have the same results. It’s time for a change.

Samir Al Baghdadi is the author of this article on Educational studies . Find more information, about Social & Educational Sciences here.