Houthi Levies Imposed on Secondary Students in Al-Hasha, Al-Dhale' Governate

Local sources in Yemen's Al-Dhale' Governorate report that secondary school students in Al-Hasha district are being subjected to illegal financial extortion by Houthi militia elements coinciding with the start of year-end examinations.

The sources, including a document obtained by this publication, indicate that students at Salah Al-Din School in the Bani Subh area were compelled to pay 5,000 Yemeni Riyals per student under the guise of "examination committee expenses." This mandatory payment has generated widespread discontent among parents and students, particularly given the nation's severe economic deterioration.

Information detailing the distribution of these imposed funds suggests that 3,000 Riyals are allocated to the head and members of the examination committee, while the remaining 2,000 Riyals are directed toward Houthi supervisors overseeing the examination process and security arrangements at the school.

Parents have voiced concerns that these practices constitute an undue financial burden on families and may impede some students' ability to continue their education or participate in the required testing.

These developments follow numerous recurring complaints from residents in Houthi-controlled areas regarding the imposition of unofficial levies and fees across various sectors, including the vital education system.