The Minister of Information stated that the Houthi militia’s ban on English language education is part of their plan to destroy education.

Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism Speaks Out

Minister Ma’mar al-Eryani condemned the Houthi militia’s recent decision to ban English language instruction in both public and private schools up to the fifth grade. He described this action as part of a broader strategy aimed at dismantling educational foundations and isolating future generations from the language of progress.

Targeting Educational Foundations

Al-Eryani emphasized that this ban reflects the Houthi militia’s systematic efforts to create a closed ideological environment that aligns with their outdated religious agenda. He pointed out that prohibiting English is a clear tactic to politicize education, transforming it into a tool for promoting extremist sectarian agendas.

Schools as Platforms for Indoctrination

The minister highlighted that the Houthi militia seeks to convert schools into platforms for indoctrinating children with foreign ideas, rather than fostering values of knowledge and openness that are essential to Yemen’s national identity. He asserted that this move reveals the extent of the ignorance and isolation that dominates the militia’s mindset, which aims to destroy all connections to knowledge and openness, particularly regarding English language education. English serves as a crucial gateway to modern sciences and technology.

A History of Repressive Measures

Al-Eryani noted that this ban follows a series of similar actions by the Houthi militia, including the closure of English language institutes. He specifically mentioned the shutdown of the historic “Yali” Institute in Sana’a, once one of Yemen’s oldest and most significant English language schools. The militia justified this closure under the pretext of “mixing” and “soft war,” accusing the institute of promoting a “Western identity” that threatens what they call the “faith identity.”

Cultural Erosion and Ideological Control

In a related context, al-Eryani warned that this campaign against the English language and contemporary culture coincides with the militia’s efforts to impose Persian language instruction in educational curricula. Additionally, they are promoting propaganda songs in Persian, aiming to erase Yemeni and Arab identity while fostering a foreign culture rooted in ideological dependency on Iranian influence.

Consequences for Future Generations

Al-Eryani concluded with a stern warning about the catastrophic consequences of these policies. He stated that such actions will only lead to the ignorance of future generations, depriving them of the tools necessary for global communication. This threat jeopardizes Yemen’s future, marginalizing it from global civilization and closing off opportunities for its youth to engage in the world economy.

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