Dhamar University Withholds Student Results to Enforce Participation in Houthi Courses
- Dhamar University withholds results to enforce participation in mandatory Houthi ideological courses.
- Students are denied access to grades until they attend the compulsory courses.
- Houthi courses promote sectarian ideology and include military training elements.
- These actions threaten educational integrity and violate students' rights in Houthi-controlled areas.
Dhamar University Blocks Student Results to Enforce Houthi Courses
Dhamar University, currently under the control of the Houthi militia, has made the controversial decision to withhold second-semester results for numerous students. The university cites the students’ failure to participate in mandatory ideological courses, referred to as “Tsunami of Al-Aqsa,” as the reason for this action.
Arbitrary Measures Against Students
Students expressed shock upon discovering that their grades were inaccessible. When they inquired about the situation, university officials directed them to the student affairs office to justify their absence from the courses. These sessions were compulsory and conducted within the colleges over the past few weeks. Moreover, sources revealed that the university administration has mandated students to enroll in new courses and complete them for their academic results to be recognized. This requirement implies that any student who does not participate in these programs will not have their grades validated or be allowed to continue their academic procedures.
Content of Houthi Courses and Broader Implications
The courses imposed by the Houthi militia contain clear sectarian and military elements. They promote a tribal ideology, glorify militia leaders, and prominently display their slogans. Additionally, the curriculum includes practical training on weapon usage, indicating a troubling trend toward politicizing education that jeopardizes students’ futures.
These actions align with the militia’s broader strategy to politicize education and link academic achievement to levels of loyalty to their regime. This approach threatens the futures of thousands of students and exacerbates the collapse of the educational system in Houthi-controlled areas. Concerns about educational quality and students’ freedom to make academic decisions are rising.
Such arbitrary policies represent a blatant violation of students’ rights and reflect the Houthis’ intent to use education as a means of controlling minds. The international community must take a firm stance against these violations that threaten the future of education in Yemen.
