Separation of the sexes: Latest Houthi fad in university education

Aya Ezz

The Iranian-backed Houthi militia issued a decision to separate male and female students at the Faculty of Mass Communication at Sanaa University and to allocate specific days for male students and others for female students only.

This decision came as a continuation of the series of Houthi violations against the rules regulating education in universities under the control of the militia, and it also reflects an extremist tendency against female students under the pretext of avoiding sedition and preserving morals.

This decision was announced in a statement published on social media pages through what is known as the University Student Forum, which is the body concerned with monitoring and managing public behavior in universities in areas controlled by the Houthi militia.

Condemnation and anger

This decision sparked condemnation and anger from many students, academics and jurists, who considered it interference in educational affairs, a violation of freedom of expression and communication, and an attempt to impose an extremist vision on society.

The Houthi militia had previously imposed laws and regulations restricting the freedom of education and teaching at Sanaa University and other educational institutions in their areas under its control, such as banning some courses or changing their content, appointing supervisors for student activities, or distributing leaflets and pamphlets bearing the militia’s slogans and ideas.

The Houthi militia’s intervention in the education sector was not limited to separating male and female students, but also included changing curricula and courses, imposing fees on students and teachers, recruiting young men and women to fight in its ranks, and closing some educational institutions or turning them into prisons or weapons depots.

This led to a deterioration in the quality and efficiency of education in Houthi-controlled areas, a decrease in the level of academic performance of male and female students, an increase in the dropout rate and school delays, and the rights of teachers and employees were violated and marginalized.

Warnings

Human rights and educational organizations have warned of the seriousness of this situation for the future of new generations in Yemen and for the stability and development of society, stressing that education is a basic right for every person and that it must be free, comprehensive and impartial.

These organizations called for the necessity of ending the militia’s control over the education sector, restructuring educational institutions, updating curricula and courses, improving working conditions for teachers and employees, and providing educational opportunities for all children and youth without discrimination or threat.