School Doors: Bringing out-of-school children back into the classroom in Yemen

The program, which ran from August 2018 to May 2022, focused on improving access to quality education in the region. The IRC worked closely with the Ministry of Education (MoE) to achieve this goal. In August 2021, the IRC Education Officers and MoE staff conducted Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) training for 625 teachers from 42 schools in the five supported districts of Al Dhale’e governorate. The training aimed to strengthen teachers' knowledge and skills to provide an enabling and nurturing environment for children impacted by conflict and displacement trauma. The training also explored referral pathway mechanisms to support children, including child protection, health, and nutrition. The IRC distributed teacher's kits to 309 teachers, including a backpack, vest, and cap, to motivate and support teachers with teaching activities. The kits included lesson plans, schemes of work, children's progress records, and classroom registers. The IRC also conducted teacher coaching and mentoring sessions for 34 teachers in the five supported districts. The IRC contracted 173 teachers in Al Dhale’e governorate formal schools and community-based centers, and 20 additional teachers dedicated to home-based learning in Al Dhale’e and Qaatabah districts. The teachers were contracted for eight and a half months to provide teaching and learning support to learners in IRC-supported schools and receive a monthly incentive of USD 60. In August, clashes between pro-Internationally Recognized Government (IRG) and Houthi forces in Haqleen, Al Job, Subeirah, Bitar, and Mureis frontline area in Al Dhale’e governorate did not cause access or security obstacles for IRC staff and activity implementation. However, heavy rainfall and flooding in most parts of the country impacted access to some schools in Al Dhale’e, Al Azareq, and Qaatabah districts. A school fence and toilets were destroyed at the Alsalool primary school in Al Dhale’e district, decreasing security and increasing health risks for attending students. The IRC has started preparing for home-based learning activities in Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps. The Education Coordinator visited eight IDP camps in Al Dhale’e and Qa’atabah districts to meet with camp leaders and follow up on learners aged 6-14 years who do not attend any form of school. The visit facilitated meetings to identify learners and suitable locations for home-based learning within the camps. The IRC continued to support 148 teachers with a monthly incentive of USD 60 per month in all supported schools in the five districts of Al Dhale’e governorate. The IRC distributed teacher's kits to 309 teachers, including a backpack, vest, and cap, to motivate and support teachers with teaching activities. The IRC also conducted teacher coaching and mentoring sessions for 34 teachers in the five supported districts. The IRC's goal is to provide out-of-school children (ages 6-14) in Al Dhale’e governorate with access to safe, functional education services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program aims to expand access to safe quality education, train and support teachers, provide children with effective psychosocial support, and ensure education service delivery is ensured and strengthened.