The Teachers’ Union warns of the dangers posed by Houthi summer centers in promoting sectarian indoctrination and child recruitment.

Teachers’ Union Warns Against Houthi Summer Centers

The Yemeni Teachers’ Union has issued a strong warning to parents in areas controlled by Houthi militias. The union cautions against enrolling children in summer centers run by these militias, which they claim serve as hubs for ideological indoctrination and child recruitment.

Expansion of Summer Centers

In a statement shared with the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), the union highlighted the Houthi militia’s expansion of summer centers since their takeover of the capital, Sana’a. These centers aim to attract a large number of children and youth, raising concerns about their true purpose.

Ideological Indoctrination and National Identity

The union asserts that the Houthis utilize these centers for ideological and sectarian indoctrination. Their goal is to erase national identity and instill foreign ideas that conflict with Yemeni and Islamic values. This indoctrination promotes the notion of divine selection for power and wealth among their lineage, effectively turning children into human bombs that support the Houthi agenda and Iranian interests. This poses a significant threat to regional security and international navigation in the Red Sea.

Systematic Targeting of Education

The statement also addressed the systematic targeting of Yemen’s education sector by the Houthi militia since their control of Sana’a. The union claims that the Houthis aim to perpetuate ignorance among youth to exert control over them. They employ two parallel strategies: first, they aim to “erode national awareness and identity through systematic ideological tools,” and second, they target teachers’ livelihoods by withholding salaries. Both strategies pose an existential threat to the educational process and the country’s future.

Call for Action

The union emphasizes that the ongoing deprivation of teachers’ rights and salaries since September 2016 significantly weakens education. This situation opens the door to “ignorance and ideological control.” The union urges teachers and parents to take responsibility for protecting students from intellectual exploitation.

Additionally, the union has renewed its call for the payment of teachers’ salaries, which have been suspended in Houthi-controlled areas. This suspension has caused widespread humanitarian suffering and forced many teachers and their families to flee, negatively impacting the educational process.

International Intervention Needed

The Teachers’ Union appeals to the international community, the United Nations, and organizations focused on education and childhood to take urgent and effective action. They demand that the Houthi militia cease the politicization of education, stop exploiting children, and pressure for the retroactive payment of salaries in accordance with international laws and norms.

This situation highlights the urgent need for intervention to protect Yemen’s educational landscape and safeguard the future of its children.

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