Figure 1.--This photograph of an unidentified Yemenite school class shows the pupils (all boys) wearing a uniform of short sleeve tunics, with the keffiyeh and bare feet. The photo is undated, but has a kind of British look to it. We suspect it was taken in the 1950s.

Yemen is one of the most consrvative countries in the Arab world. Public education is a very new concept. Expanding British sea power came to bear in Indian Ocean ports to end the slave trade and to safeguard sealanes with India. This was especially the case with the opening of the Suez Canal. The British signed a series of treaties which became known as the south Arabian Protectorate. The primary British interest was a naval base in the fine natural harbor at Aden. Even with the British firmly established at Aden, the Ottoman Sultan still had religious authority which in the Arab world has substantial political connotations. Matters like education were for most of Yemni history were left largely in the hands of religious authorities. What education thst occurred for most of Yemeni history was largely conducted in Islamic madrassahs connected to mosques and limited to boys. The boys were taught to read, primarily by memorize Koranic passages. Girls were not deemed suitable for education. The British did establish a substantial education system. The first schools were probably opened by Christian churches. We note a Christian convent school attended by British and Yemeni children (1963). The school appears to be operated by thge Vicariate Apostolic of Arabia. We are not sure that the Yemni children, mostly girls and younger boys, were all Christians. We are not sure when the British effort began. The British in the early-60s were helping fund a modern school system including 40 primry schools, 34 intermediare schools, and 12 secondary schools. (Our source document is very difficult to read so we are not positive about the nymbers.) . They were a mix of giovernent, grant-aided, and private schools.) Britain granted Aden independence (1967). Some efforts were begun to build a public school systems, but progressed was inhibited with the outbreak of civil war. The People's Democratic Republic of Yemen was formed, but the north and south descended into civil war (1970s-80s). Yemen was finally unified (1990). The Yemen Arab Republic (North) joined with the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South) to form the Republic of Yemen. It was not until unifification that Yemen made any substantial effort to build a nationsl public school system. The country's public school system now consists of basic education (9 years) and secondary education (3 years). The Ministry of education reported 2.7 million students and 90,000 teachers (1997). The students received Intermediate School Certificate after sucessfully completing a 9-year program. Some students continue secondary studies. Students who succesfully complete the 3-year secondary program by pasing an exam receive a General Secondary Education Certificate also called 'Al Thanawiya'. Yemeni students, however, do not score well in interntional comparisons. Students can pursue university studies in the major cities.

Islamic Era (8th-19th centuries)

Yemen is one of the most consrvative countries in the Arab world. Public education is a very new concept. Expanding British sea power came to bear in Indian Ocean ports to end the slave trade and to safeguard sealanes with India. This was especially the case with the opening of the Suez Canal. The British signed a series of treaties which became known as the south Arabian Protectorate. The primary British interest was a naval base in the fine natural harbor at Aden. Even with the British firmly established at Aden, the Ottoman Sultan still had religious authority which in the Arab world has substantial political connotations. Matters like education were for most of Yemni history were left largely in the hands of religious authorities. What education thst occurred for most of Yemeni history was largely conducted in Islamic madrassahs connected to mosques and limited to boys. The boys were taught to read, primarily by memorize Koranic passages. Girls were not deemed suitable for education.

British Era (1800-1967)

The British did establish a substantial education system in Aden. The first schools in a modern Western sence were probably opened by Christian churches, we believe during the British era. Christian churches were common in many areas of the Middle East, Nirth Africa and the Levant, but not on the arabian Peninsula. Thus the churches in Yemen oriobably most date to the British era. We note a Christian convent school attended by British and Yemeni children (1963). The school appears to be operated by thge Vicariate Apostolic of Arabia. We are not sure that the Yemeni children, mostly girls and younger boys, were all Christians. The way the girls are dressed, especially the older girls, are not how Yemeni girls dressed. n many Arab countries, many women wore fashionanle clothes in the 1960s, a trend toward Islamic dress began in the 1970s, even in universities. But Yemen was a very cinservative country and fashionable Westrern clothing would not hve been worn bu many women there. We are not sure when the British effort to create a public school system began. We believe mostly after World War II. The British in the early-60s were helping fund a modern school system including 40 primry schools, 34 intermediare schools, and 12 secondary schools. (Our source document is very difficult to read so we are not positive about the nymbers.) . They were a mix of giovernent, grant-aided, and private schools.)

Independence (1967- )

Britain granted Aden independence (1967). We asre not sure whatb happened to the school system established during the British era. Some efforts were begun to continue building a public school systems, but progressed was inhibited with the outbreak of civil war. The People's Democratic Republic of Yemen was formed, but the north and south descended into civil war (1970s-80s). Yemen was finally unified (1990). The Yemen Arab Republic (North) joined with the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South) to form the Republic of Yemen. It was not until unifification that Yemen made any substantial effort to build a nationsl public school system. The country's public school system now consists of basic education (9 years) and secondary education (3 years). The Ministry of education reported 2.7 million students and 90,000 teachers (1997). The students received Intermediate School Certificate after sucessfully completing a 9-year program. Some students continue secondary studies. Students who succesfully complete the 3-year secondary program by pasing an exam receive a General Secondary Education Certificate also called 'Al Thanawiya'. Yemeni students, however, do not score well in interntional comparisons. Students can pursue university studies in the major cities.

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