Amid war, Yemeni students sit their exams

Despite the effects of Yemen's war and the violence perpetrated by extremist groups such as al-Qaeda and the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) on the country's educational system, students were able to sit their final exams.

A number of schools in Sanaa and around the country were destroyed, while others were converted into shelters for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The Ministry of Education held final exams for primary and secondary school students on May 30th, including promotion exams for grades one through eight in the primary schools, and the first and second years in secondary schools.

The ministry has set July 30th as the date for general certification exams for 9th grade and 12th grade students.

Deputy Minister of Education Abdullah al-Hamidi visited a number of Sanaa schools while the exams were under way, accompanied by local officials.

The ministry was able to complete the academic year despite the security and daily life challenges, which included financial difficulties and direct and indirect damage caused by the war, al-Hamidi told Al-Shorfa.

Both schools and students were affected by the conflict, he said, adding that the ministry’s staff and the students "were up to the challenge, and attended schools in the cities and villages despite the ongoing events".

Students attended classes under trees

"The students challenged themselves, especially in areas in which schools were subjected to acts of violence, by attending classes under trees to learn," said Undersecretary of Education Mohammed al-Saqqaf.

"Many of the schools were turned into housing for IDPs due to the war, and 1,600 schools suffered destruction, including 250 schools that were totally destroyed," he told Al-Shorfa.

Schools were suspended in a number of directorates in al-Bayda province, in Marib and three districts in Taiz because of the fighting, al-Saqqaf said.

"Some of the difficulties that impeded the education process in Aden included the segregation of male and female students by extremist groups," he added.

Other challenges include the summer heat whereas some coastal provinces suffer with the onset of summer, making conditions not conducive for students to study in the absence of electricity, he said.

These circumstances were taken into account, he added, so schools in those provinces held their final exams in advance of the others.

Sanaa accommodates displaced students

Schools in Sanaa opened their doors to internally displaced children from around the country, making room for 70,000 additional students, Amanat Sanaa education office director general Mohammed al-Fadhli told Al-Shorfa.

The numbers of these students have increased from last year, he said, adding that some of the schools also served as ‘IDP camps’.

Although a large number of schools were damaged as a result of the war "the 2015-2016 academic year was a success because, unlike last year, we completed the curriculum thanks to the sacrifices of the teaching staff and co-operation of students and parents", he said.

Many teachers made personal efforts to get the partially damaged schools up and running, he added.