RANIA ABDULLAH

 Yemen- Yemen has been suffering from the growing economic crisis, the ongoing conflict, exacerbating poverty and hunger.

Since December 2024, teachers in Yemen’s Taiz province have been on a comprehensive strike, demanding better salaries, working conditions and the improvement of their living conditions. The teachers say their strike will continue until their demands are met.

‘Our salary is insufficient to provide for our basic needs’

“The economic crisis has been deteriorating,” said Donia Ali Hassan, who has been working as an English teacher since 2010.  “As male and female teachers, we face a real tragedy. The relevant authorities must take serious action to improve our living conditions.” In the country, the salary of teachers is less than 40 dollars. “Our salary is insufficient to provide for our basic needs. When we pay the rent and bills, we have no money left to buy food.”

‘Our demands are not illegal demands’

In the country, many women are the breadwinners of their families. “Many women have to be breadwinners of their families because of the deaths of fathers and husbands in the war. Women have no choice but to work and earn. All our demands are simple and they are not illegal demands. We demand for a hike in our salaries according to the current economic conditions and the ongoing depreciation of the local currency. Education is halted in Taiz because our demands are not met. Our strike will continue until our demands are met.”

“Teachers work hard and devotedly,” said Ashwaq Al-Asbahi, another teacher in Taiz. “However, we are paid salaries that are insufficient due to difficult living conditions. Our demands must be immediately met.”

Parents criticize the government for not meeting the demands of the teachers. “Our children are deprived of education due to the strike,” said Israa, one of the parents. “Education guarantees the future of our children. The government must immediately meet the demands of the teachers because education should not be halted anymore.