Master’s Degree for Researcher Iqbal Mahyoub Hazza from the Inclusive Research Development Center (IRDC)

Researcher Iqbal Mahyoub Hazza Al-Omari earned a Master’s degree with honors in International Development Studies from the Includive Research Development Center at Sana’a University, for her thesis titled “The Role of International Organizations in Addressing Children’s Dropout from Basic Education in Yemen,” on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.

The Viva and evaluation committee consisted of:
* Assistant Professor Dr. Hamoud Abdulrahman Al-Qahtani, external examiner and committee chairperson.
* Assistant Professor Dr. Abdulwahab Yahya Abdulqader, Main supervisor and member.
* Dr. Intilaq Abdulmalik Al-Mutawakil, internal examiner and member.

The thesis aimed to study the role of international organizations in addressing children’s dropout from basic education in Yemen (Al-Hudaydah and Hajjah governorates).

The thesis revealed several key findings, including: that the interventions and support provided by UNICEF to children and schools are diverse, as mentioned by the participants, such as: school bags providing essential educational materials to meet the needs and requirements of children, which is considered an important and necessary elements to welcome children and register them in schools. It is also considered an assistance to parents who face difficulties due to economic conditions, poverty, and insecurity due to the ongoing war in Yemen. Also, the social factors such as early marriage, the priority of educating males over females, customs and traditions, lack of awareness of girls’ education, women’s preoccupation with household missions at home or in the field, especially in rural areas, lack of female teachers, and shortage of school books. Environmental factors such as unpaved roads and remote schools, all of which lead to children’s absence and dropping school. The need to rehabilitate school facilities and provision of schools with awareness tools (personal protection equipment and cleaning materials for schools) and school offices. Training is also another means of intervention and is also a means of building the capacities of school teachers and administrators, helping in the national examinations in schools, and the Teacher Financial Incentive (TFI) program.

The study suggested several recommendations, most notably: improving the educational sector, and in this context, the Ministry of Education, along with international development partners, are recommended to allocate efforts and resources to improve the quality of education in Yemen. The resources that can be provided to improve the education sector include the continuous supply of school books, offices, educational tools, and science kits to all schools, in addition to ensuring access to facilities in schools such as laboratories, library resources, and other facilities. Economic support and incentives for families. And also promoting awareness: this includes the efforts of international organizations to provide the necessary support to sponsor awareness programs and campaigns that are conducted to ensure that students and parents receive the necessary support to maintain school activities in schools.

The discussion was attended by a number of academics, researchers, students, and interested individuals, as well as several of the researcher’s colleagues and family members.