Abdullah Al-Shadli (South24)

Few years after seizing control of the former Yemeni capital city of Sanaa in 2015 and large parts of North Yemen, the Houthis have begun to broadly amend the school educational curricula. Most of these amendments focused on enhancing an aura of sanctity on the Houthis' iconic figures as well as fueling religious and sectarian feelings. 

Screenshot by "South24 Center"

Basically, the amendments promote the Imamate doctrine and the Shiite Wilaya (guardianship) in religious books (Quran-Islamic Education) in addition to Arabic and National Education. Moreover, the Houthi leader and his family (father-brother) acquired a large portion of these amendments such as publishing their photos or quoting some of their statements. 

Recently, the amendments included verses authored by popular poets affiliated with the Houthis in the Arabic books of the primary grades. Many of these verses call for war and Jihad and joining the Houthi ranks in the fronts. They also hail Shiite religious and historical events such as “September 21th 2015”, in which the Houthis invaded Sanaa. They annually celebrate this day as a “national revolution”.

A poem by the Houthis-affiliate Moaz Al-Junaid in an Arabic Literature textbook, Part 1, 7th Grade. (Screenshot by South24 Center)

In this report, “South24 Center” monitors some examples of the Houthi curricular amendments in North Yemen. It highlights the danger of these changes and their current and future consequences in raising entire generations based upon ideological and doctrinal ideas which incite violence and hatred. Furthermore, there are threats of being leaked into the schools in areas affiliated with the PLC. 

Amendments

Some curricular covers such as the “National Education” schoolbook for the primary 8th and the 9th grades were amended. For example, the Houthis were keen on instilling the notions of war and weapons as well as promoting the group’s slogans which are related to the current political situation.

The following table shows some of the most important curricular amendments monitored by “South24 Center”:

Houthi ideology 

Ali Haytham* who is a sociology expert based in Sanaa told “South24 Center” that ”the interpretation of Quranic verses in the primary school curricula are currently based upon writings by Hussein Badr Al-Din Al-Houthi, the brother of [the current Houthis leader] Abdulmalik Al-Houthi. 

He added: “Changing curricula is among many methods adopted by the Houthis since their control on Sanaa. There are annual summer camps for children and students from both genders which include religious lessons and weapon training. Moreover, the Houthis exploit the pulpits of the mosques to spread their ideas. 

The expert believes that the Houthi curricular amendments “are considered a time bomb that threatens the future of Yemen”. He added: “The Houthis' ideology is basically established on violence. Planting it within the students’ minds is very dangerous. The group can fully dominate the minds of the next generation if these areas remain under their control. Amendments won’t be limited at this level as we will see new developments annually.

Ali indicated that the Houthis cautiously deal with the amendments “as they fear unexpected reactions”. He added: “They plant feelings of love towards the Houthi race into the students’ minds. They exploit people’s ignorance and their innate religiosity which can be wooed by false or fake Hadiths about loving Al Albayt".

As for the summer camps, the expert said that “the Houthis use them to teach the students purely sectarian content in an intensified way”. He added: “They succeeded in mobilizing hundreds of thousands to these camps through the so-called “Aqal Al-Harat” (heads [mayor] of residential neighborhoods). 

National Education schoolbook for the 8th Grade. (Screenshot by “South24 Center")

He added: “The major issue is that these students receive courses in the Houthi centers and then they promote their ideology within their communities and neighborhoods. Thus, the circle of those who are affected by these dangerous ideas is expanded”. 

However, Dr. Mohammed Al-Mousta, Member of the curricular committee in the Houthi government defended these amendments. 

He told “South24 Center”: “We are not the only ones who insert the photos of our iconic figures in the curricula. Even Saudi Arabia and UAE include their leaders in the curricula". He added: “Educational and teaching staff along with the previous cadres supervise the preparation for the new curricula. They are considered necessary changes in life”.

Al-Mousta believes that the Houthi curricular amendments are “common acts made by countries around the world from every now and then”. He added: “the changes in every aspect dictate such amendments, namely the social changes. Even in the Ali Abdullah Saleh era, there had been curricular amendments". 

National Education schoolbook for the 8th Grade (Screenshot by “South24 Center).

The Yemeni government 

In addition to the curricular crisis in the PLC areas (the liberated governorates), there are real threats about the flood of the distorted curricula in the Houthi areas.

In this regard, Dr. Mukhtar Al-Mushoushi, Assistant Deputy of the Education Sector told “South24 Center" that "the Houthis amendments in the curricula began in 2017 and included some textbooks. At that time, the Ministry of Education issued directives to stop the flow of these books, after examining them and analyzing the nature of the changes.”

He added: "A scientific study following these changes has proven that most of them instruct ideological premises and jihadist ideas which are incompatible with the education policy in the country, not even with the ideological aspect".

National Education schoolbook for the 8th Grade (Screenshot by “South24 Center").

Al-Mushoushi said that the Houthis used aid allocated for the printing of school books in 2016 to publish eight types of distorted textbooks". He added: "This was the beginning of the Houthi intervention in the school curricula. They introduce some changes here and there in all grades”

Scientific standards

Regarding the mechanism adopted in preparing curricula, Al-Mushoushi said: "curricula have to stick with references committed by the state such as the policy and philosophy of the education in Yemen. There is a reference called "The Curriculum General Premises Document". This framework is the one which should govern the directions of making curricula".

Arabic literature school book, part 1, the 8th Grade (Screenshot by "South24 Center")

He added: "The preparation process occurs first by forming national teams to prepare any curriculum. These teams are given these references that no one can deviate from. After the teams accomplish the curriculum, it is subjected to review and supervision. Later, it is handed over to specialized technical committees to scrutinize before being submitted to a higher curricular committee for approval".

He continued: "After that, there is the process of putting it under field test whose results are collected, studied and analyzed. Later, the decision is made by the Higher Curricular Committee, whether it needs some amendments, or to roll it out without changes. There is a periodic, if not annual, assessment process for our curricula.”

The governmental official stressed that "there are general lines which have to be respected by everyone". He added: "the authoring process is not an open one as there is a certain framework through which authors can move. It is the one which governs these curricula. This is the scientific process adopted by us in the Ministry of Education to author, review and develops any curriculum".

With the ongoing Houthi control on Northern areas and their gradual enhancement of their grip, it seems that the threats of producing sectarian and ideological generations are higher than ever. Moreover, any Houthi military advancement in the remaining Northern areas or in South Yemen threatens to create sectarian and doctrinal clashes which increase the complexity of the crisis.