News
News
Minister Al-Zaouri: The Collapse of Education Means the Collapse of the State, Morality, and the Emergence of Dangerous Social Phenomena
Oct 23, 2025
This morning, the capital city of Aden witnessed the closing ceremony of the “Access to Education in Rural Areas” project, which celebrated the graduation of 150 female teachers across four governorates — Lahj, Shabwah, Hadramout, and Al-Mahrah.
The project was implemented through a joint partnership between the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen (SPDRY) and Al-Awn Foundation for Development, in the presence of H.E. Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al-Zaouri, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, along with a number of officials, representatives of donor agencies, and supporting organizations.
In his speech during the ceremony, Minister Al-Zaouri expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, for their generous support to Yemen through SPDRY.
He stated that the program “has implemented strategic projects that have significantly contributed to improving economic and service conditions across various governorates — not only in the field of education but also in many other developmental sectors.”
Minister Al-Zaouri emphasized that the Access to Education in Rural Areas project represents an advanced model of social protection, explaining that it contributes to empowering girls educationally, protecting them from poverty and exploitation, and addressing the shortage of female teachers in remote areas. This, he noted, aligns with the Ministry’s mission to strengthen social protection and promote women’s empowerment.
The Minister also highlighted the difficult economic circumstances facing the country and their impact on teachers, saying:
“Many teachers have been forced to leave the education sector and seek other forms of work due to low salaries that are insufficient to meet their basic needs — food, medicine, and a decent livelihood.”
He called on the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen to launch dedicated programs to support teachers across the governorates, to help them overcome these harsh living conditions, alongside existing initiatives supporting women and education.
Minister Al-Zaouri further urged all state institutions, both civil and military, as well as civil society organizations, to pay greater attention to young graduates and provide them with training and opportunities, warning that neglecting education and youth leads to disastrous consequences for society.
He concluded his speech by affirming:
“The collapse of education means the collapse of the state, the collapse of morality, and the emergence of dangerous social phenomena such as crime and drug abuse. Supporting education and teachers is, therefore, a safeguard for the nation’s future and stability.”
During the ceremony, H.E. Dr. Tariq Salem Al-Akberi, Minister of Education, also addressed the participants via Zoom, expressing his gratitude to the organizations supporting the project and his regret for being unable to attend in person. He stressed the importance of training rural female teachers as a vital step toward enhancing education in remote areas.
Meanwhile, Eng. Ahmed Al-Madkhali, Director of the SPDRY Office, affirmed that the project represents a qualitative leap in supporting girls’ education and enhancing their active participation in community development, noting that the Saudi Program views education as a cornerstone for nation-building.
For his part, Mr. Abdulilah Abdulqader Bin Othman, Executive Director of Al-Awn Foundation for Development, reviewed the foundation’s mission in building human capacity and stressed the crucial role of education in achieving sustainable development impact in rural communities.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Minister Al-Zaouri, accompanied by Mr. Awad Al-Salahi, Deputy Governor of Lahj, along with representatives from SPDRY offices in Aden and Riyadh, and senior officials from the Ministry of Education, distributed certificates and honored the graduates and supporting entities involved in the project’s implementation.
The event was attended by Mr. Mohammed Ali Al-Samati, Director General of Associations, Mr. Adnan Saeed, Director General of Relations and Media at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, directors of education offices in the target governorates, and a number of government officials.
