Ahmed Bajoaim – Women in Development and Peace
Higher education in Yemen faces numerous challenges, most notably the deep gap between opportunities for men and women. Women face social, cultural, and economic obstacles that hinder their academic and professional aspirations. Despite efforts to promote gender equality, these obstacles continue to impede equal access to higher education and reduce women’s opportunities in the labor market.
This report examines the most prominent manifestations of gender discrimination in Yemeni universities and educational institutions. It also highlights the initiatives and efforts undertaken by public universities to promote fairness and equality in educational and professional opportunities. The report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the reality of gender discrimination in higher education in Yemen and offer scientific and practical recommendations that contribute to building a more just and equitable future for all in the field of higher education and academic work.
Gender Equality
The President of Seiyun University, Dr. Muhammad Al-Khathiri, stated, “The districts of Wadi Hadhramaut are among the most conservative areas, which hinders girls’ access to university education, especially in light of the limited number of colleges in Al-Wadi. Therefore, the transfer of girls to pursue university education in distant cities, such as Sana’a, Aden, and Mukalla, is a rare occurrence.”
He added, “The establishment of Seiyun University was a qualitative leap in the path of girls’ education in Wadi Hadhramaut, as it opened the door wide open for them to enroll in university education without the need to travel to distant cities.”
He continued, “The idea of establishing a college for girls by Hadhramaut University was one of the first important steps that enhance gender equality in higher education.”
Dr. Al-Khathiri emphasized that one effect of establishing Seiyun University on girls’ education is the increased percentage of female students at the university. The establishment of the university and the opening of new departments in the colleges led to a significant increase in the attendance rate of girls. It also provided girls with opportunities to study in various disciplines, which contributed to expanding their horizons, opening new horizons for work, and promoting gender equality in higher education by providing equal opportunities for men and women.
For his part, the Vice President of Al-Mahra University for Student Affairs, Dr. Adil bin Mu’ili, indicated that Al-Mahra University is a scientific beacon that strives to provide distinguished educational opportunities for its students, with a focus on promoting gender equality and meeting the needs of the governorate and the local market.
He explained that among the efforts to promote gender equality is the introduction of diverse specializations that meet the needs of the labor market and suit the capabilities and potential of students of both genders. These specializations include marketing, business administration, accounting, dentistry and oral surgery, information technology and computer science, and various educational specializations such as kindergarten, field teaching, physics, and others. Additionally, postgraduate studies programs have been opened in disciplines that meet the requirements, providing students with the opportunity to continue their academic and specialized education.
He added, “These specializations have significantly contributed to enhancing equal opportunities for both genders in accessing higher and academic education. In addition to that, special university housing has been provided for girls coming from distant areas, as well as transportation support and financial incentives from the local authority in the governorate for some specializations.”
Statistics
Women in Development and Peace newspaper obtained statistics from the Educational Information Department at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, which show that the number of female faculty members at Al-Hodeidah University reached 200, Abyan University 100, Shabwa University 4, Seiyun University 37, and Lahj University 115. These indicators demonstrate clear progress in the number of women in academic work within public and even private universities, suggesting that the near future will witness an increase in female faculty members in higher education.
The President of Seiyun University, Dr. Al-Khathiri, pointed out that after the establishment of Seiyun University and the opening of new departments in the colleges, the percentage of female students at the university increased to 43% across all colleges. In some specializations, the number of girls exceeded the number of male students. In the College of Education, girls make up 60% of the student body, while in the College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, they account for 48%. In open education programs, girls represent 45% of the students. The percentage of female faculty and assistant teaching staff reached 14%, and the percentage of female employees in the academic sector is 30%.
He also indicated that the College of Arts and Languages has the highest attendance rate for female students, with their attendance rate at Al-Mahra University reaching about 52%. The percentage of women attending the Faculty of Law represents 36%, while the percentage of female students in the Faculty of Computing is low at 25%. There are no female students in the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports.
He added, “Among Seiyun University’s efforts to enhance women’s presence is the creation of new departments. The university has established new departments that include a physical education and rehabilitation program, aiming to attract more female students to these fields and strengthen the presence of women in various colleges. The percentage of girls in the first year of the department’s opening exceeded 50%. While the College of Agriculture and Food still has a low percentage of female students, it is witnessing an improvement and increasing interest from female students recently.”
In the same context, Dr. Bin Mu’ili mentioned that the percentage of female students at Al-Mahra University is approximately 65% in bachelor’s programs and 50% in postgraduate studies. This is a positive indicator of the university’s keenness to provide equal educational opportunities for men and women. The representation of women among the teaching staff at Al-Mahra University reached 35%, while the percentage of women working on the administrative side is 70%.
Encouraging Girls
Dr. Al-Khathiri said, “Seiyun University recognizes the importance of girls’ education and their role in building society. Therefore, the university is making every effort to provide a supportive and encouraging educational environment for girls to enroll in university education, according to the available capabilities. The university takes into account the privacy of conservative women by providing a suitable environment for them to express themselves and exercise their rights.”
He added, “Seiyun University realizes that providing housing for female students is one of the most important factors in promoting their education. Therefore, the university presidency has called on supporting agencies for girls’ education to contribute to providing housing and transportation support for female students, which helps them overcome the difficulties of transportation and reach the university easily.”
He mentioned that Al-Mahra University, in coordination with the local authority in the governorate, sought to find incentives to encourage male and female students to enroll in the university by providing separate housing for male and female students, transportation support for female students, reduced prices for study materials, support for outstanding students, and incentives from the local authority to promote enrollment in College of Education specializations. Therefore, the university has achieved tangible progress in enhancing the presence of girls in the university, as well as in postgraduate studies and academic work.
Recommendations
Dr. Al-Khathiri stated that Seiyun University is making strenuous efforts to promote girls’ education and remove obstacles in their way, believing in the importance of their role in building society. However, these efforts face a major challenge, which is the lack of infrastructure and buildings. To address these issues, it is crucial to implement the buildings outlined in the university’s master plan. Supporting agencies for women’s education, such as the Yemen Reconstruction Fund, the Ministry of Planning, and the Kuwait Fund, play a vital role in realizing this plan. Their contributions are essential for creating modern facilities that will expand the range of colleges and specializations. This would allow the university to accommodate more female students and provide a suitable educational environment for them.
He continued, “Local institutions and international organizations supporting girls’ education are required to support Seiyun University to help it improve its work, which is a pivotal goal for all university affiliates. They should also support the opening of programs and colleges that meet the aspirations of all disciplines and educational levels.”
For his part, Bin Mu’ili explained that one of the challenges hindering girls’ pursuit of postgraduate studies is the rare scientific specializations that are not available in local universities, which affects their ability to enroll in postgraduate programs abroad. Therefore, the concerned authorities must work to provide rare scientific specializations in Yemeni universities. This would allow girls to continue their education without the need to travel abroad. They should also work to combat discrimination against women and promote a culture of gender equality.