Unknown fate of education support fund revenues..Houthi attacks critics of his taxes in schools

English - Thursday 04 August 2022 الساعة 05:28 pm
Taiz, NewsYemen, special:

The leader of the Houthi militia, appointed to the position of Minister of Education in Sana'a, Yahya al-Houthi, attacked critics of his ministry's imposition of exorbitant fees and financial levies on students enrolled in government schools at the beginning of the new academic year 2022-2023.

Al-Houthi accused critics of his group's levies imposed on school students under the name (community contribution), of not understanding and not realizing the reality, and that such people do not care about anything other than "filling their stomachs," as he put it.  He said, "They do not care about defending the people, and they do not care about a faith identity. They only care about what he got for themselves ."

In a documented television recording, he claimed that his group wanted to scientifically care for the people and preserve them for the sake of their freedom, dignity and sovereignty.

Regarding the fate of the revenues of the Education Support Fund, which was established for this purpose, Yahya al-Houthi claimed that he personally does not receive a single riyal from the 

Education Support Fund's revenues.  

As well as Hussein Jabal, the default manager of the fund, and said that they collect this money and provide it either for printing the textbook or as an incentive for teachers.

Al-Houthi claimed that the Ministry of Education did not release a budget, and that it did not have the resources, and accused the local councils of appropriating private school fees.  Attacking the local councils, he said that they did not provide any service to the Ministry of Education, but rather take the money stipulated in the laws, and we don't know where it goes?

Al-Houthi revealed that they collected 4 billion Yemeni riyals last year from the education support fund, allegedly distributed as an incentive to teachers last year.  Pointing out that they collected more than this amount this year without disclosing the amount of the amount, promising to print 50% of the students' needs for the textbook and spend the rest as an incentive for teachers.

Al-Houthi accused the private schools of selling curricula at exorbitant prices, claiming that the private schools' relationship with the Ministry of Commerce and the Investment Authority is more than their relationship with the Ministry of Education, calling on parents to submit complaints about these schools to the Ministry of Commerce and the Investment Authority and not the Ministry of Education.

It is noteworthy that the House of Representatives in Sana’a approved on September 9, 2019, the teacher and education support fund bill, with the aim of supporting teachers and students and supporting literacy and adult education programs, as well as supporting education to keep pace with the development taking place in this field and financing educational projects, including establishing and equipping educational facilities  maintenance and restoration.

According to the law of its establishment, the Fund was supposed to support and train teachers as they are the mainstay in the educational process and support them financially during crises and emergency situations and in the event that the Ministry is unable to provide their dues in a way that ensures the sustainability of education.

 Some of the Fund’s resources include the annual allocations approved by the government in the state’s general budget, adding one riyal to each liter of oil, diesel and local or imported gas, and 50% of the annual school fees.

In addition to 2% to be added to the qat sales tax, 1% to be added to customs duties for goods and merchandise at the main outlets, 1% to be added to the value of domestic and foreign land, air and sea travel tickets, and 0.5% to the value of each local or imported cement bag by weight.  50” kg packed or loose, and 2% is added to the value of each local or imported cigarette bride, and 1% is added to the value of each telephone bill (fixed or mobile) and internet services.