Yemeni students protest mix of politics and education

Yemeni students at Sana’a University staged a protest on Thursday, demanding classes resume despite teachers’ strike that brought education to a halt.

The teaching faculty decided to abandon their classes due to disagreements over who should take over the post of acting rector of the university.

Dr. Abdullah al-Azazi, Head of the teaching staff syndicate at the university told the Yemen Times newspaper that a meeting would soon take place with acting President, Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi to solve the situation.

The current acting rector, Dr. Abdulhakeem al-Sharjabi, said that “disagreement arose between the teaching staff at Sana’a University, and it is important to settle this disagreement for the advantage of the students.”

The acting rector added that it is essential to improve Sana’a University’s education levels to uphold its reputation as the biggest and oldest educational edifice in the country.

Recently-sacked rector, Dr. Ahmed Basarda, called on the Yemeni government to end all acts of violence occurring inside the university and to provide security for its employees.

Many students have blamed the militarization of the university for the violence, the Yemeni newspaper, reported.

Soldiers of the first armored division of Yemen’s military have taken up residence on the campus. Students claim that the relationship between soldiers and university students has turned violent, with soldiers abusing protesting students. The student body has continued to refuse the presence of military personnel on the university campus.

Students wish for a separation of education from politics, allowing them to continue their studies undeterred.

One protestor said that students are continually the victims of political conflict at Sana’a University, according the report.