Displaced and Local Children Find Harmony and Friendship in Revitalized Schools in Ma’rib

Ma’rib – Thirteen-year-old Jamal used to struggle to focus on his teacher or keep up with his schoolwork. He attended his daily lessons with nearly 130 other students and could barely hear his teacher’s voice.  

“We were studying in tents at a mosque because there was not enough space in our classrooms and they were extremely crowded,” explained Jamal. 

This is the case for so many students in Yemen. After seven years of conflict, nearly 3,000 schools have been destroyed, damaged or used for non-educational purposes. At the same time, 870,000 children are displaced, many more than once, which interrupted their education multiple times. 

IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix estimated that 78,500 individuals were displaced in Ma’rib in 2021. The continuous influx of displacement towards Ma’rib has exacerbated the need for education services and most of the functioning schools have become overcrowded and under-resourced.  

“The classrooms were few and they were always overcrowded. As fighting continued, so did the arrival of more students who were displaced by the conflict. Some of them were even studying in the mosque,” explained Leila, a teacher at Jaber Al-Shabwani School in Ma’rib. 

Jaber Al-Shabwani School fell far below the minimum education standard for school infrastructure. There were nearly 120 to 130 students in each class. The sewage system was insufficient, there were not enough toilets, and the school had no access to water.  

“The quality of education in my school is high, but because of the situation in Ma’rib and the large number of displaced students arriving each day, no one could find a place to sit. It was so crowded,” explained Khalid, a sixth-grade student in the school.  

Not so different from Jaber Al-Shabwani School, 14th October School was facing a similar predicament.  

“There were 70 students in each classroom. It was so loud, they could not listen or understand the lessons,” said Eman, a teacher at 14th October School, describing how the overcrowding affected both the performance of teachers and students. 

Continual waves of displacement in Ma’rib have created increasing tension between the host and displaced communities – particularly when it comes to securing one of the limited spots in the increasingly populous schools.  

This tension has put extra pressure on students who are forced to study either in sub-standard conditions, or not at all. 

To reduce the high demand for proper education and the competition over school services, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the European Union partnered to rehabilitate schools across the country – including Jaber Al Shabwani and 14th October Schools in Ma’rib. 

The rehabilitation included improving the infrastructure of buildings, adding new classrooms and equipping them with better supplies, and improving the sanitation and water systems. 

“When they built the new classes and rehabilitated the school, many students felt happy because they will overcome the difficulties of understanding their lessons. Students are able now to comprehend the lessons more easily,” said Jamal, describing how the new school expansion made a positive impact on the lives of students. 

After building additional classrooms, the schools had the capacity to divide students into different sections, creating space for more students to attend classes and making the educational process run more smoothly. 

“The attendance rate is huge. Many students who dropped out of school for a year or two have now come back to school. They are now more committed to excelling in their education,” explained Eman. 

The newly furnished classrooms have had a positive impact on both teachers and students, and the interventions reduced tension between parents from the host and displaced communities.  

“We are now happy and comfortable during the school day. We look forward to each new lesson,” said Haifa, a student in the second grade in 14th October School. 

Haifa can now pursue her dream and become a doctor in the future. 

Jaber Al-Shabwani and 14 October Schools are two of 18 schools that IOM and the European Union have rehabilitated across Yemen to give students a brighter future.