SANAA, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Long before the first lesson began, the courtyard of Nashwan Primary School in Yemen's capital Sanaa was already filling with students.
Some hurried through the main gate carrying brand-new notebooks, while others clutched worn textbooks passed down by older siblings or reused from previous school years. Parents lingered briefly before leaving, watching their children disappear into their classrooms.
Late June marked the start of the school year across Sanaa and other northern provinces controlled by the Houthi group. For most of the children who are growing up in poverty, each return to the classroom is a hard-won victory in their pursuit of their dreams and a brighter future despite the hardships they face.
Among those returning to school was 14-year-old Ziad Awfan.
Only a week earlier, the ninth-grader had been spending his mornings working to help support the family. His summer earnings helped cover food and other household expenses, and returning to school meant giving up an income his family could scarcely afford to lose.
Adjusting the strap of his faded backpack, Awfan stepped through the school gate and left his work behind.
"I quit my job and came back to school because education is my future," he said.
Awfan is among the fortunate ones. Years of conflict, economic decline, and soaring living costs have forced many parents to choose between keeping their children in school or sending them into the workforce.
According to the United Nations Children's Fund, between 3.2 million and 4.5 million school-age children in Yemen are currently out of school, while around 1.5 million displaced children are at risk of dropping out permanently. For many who remain in school, attending classes also means balancing their education with work in order to help their families survive.
It is not only the students who face difficult choices, but teachers as well.
Since conflict broke out in late 2014 between the Houthi group, which controls much of northern Yemen, and the internationally recognized government, Yemen's education system has been strained by damaged schools, shortages of learning materials, and irregular teacher salaries.
Many teachers have had to abandon teaching, as the income is no longer sufficient to support their families.
Despite years of financial hardship, social studies teacher Tazkrah Ali Al-Rassas said she remains committed to teaching because families continue placing their trust in education, even under increasingly difficult circumstances.
"Parents have sent their children because they care about their education and future," said Al-Rassas. "Our income may be low, but no challenges will stop us from fulfilling our duty and teaching these students who have sacrificed so much to be here."
When the final bell rang across the campus that afternoon, students streamed out into the streets. Some laughed with friends, while others compared homework assignments before beginning the walk home.
"I sincerely hope they will cherish this hard-won opportunity to study and persevere, no matter how difficult things may be," Al-Rassas said, watching the departing students. "Education is not only the future of these children's families, but also the future of this country." ■
