Financing for equity in higher education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to institutions
3. Education resources to students
4. Support for students' living costs
Introduction
Key financing indicators (UIS Data)
In Yemen, between 2002 and 2011, the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education fluctuated from 9.18% to 8.81%. While data on the initial government funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita and the initial household funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita are not available.
Tuition-free status
Public tertiary education is provided free of cost as stipulated in the Article 8 of the National Education Law.
Governance
In Yemen, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is primality responsible for financing higher education. The ministry implements higher education policies and oversees public and private higher education institutions. Within the ministry, the General Directorate for Government Higher Education Institutions participates in budget negotiations with public higher education institutions, including discussions on annual budgets, unconditional financial support from internal and external sources, and proposed budgets for academic programmes, while also monitoring budget execution and institutional compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The General Directorate for Private Higher Education oversees the implementation of approved policies and regulations for private institutions, including performance monitoring and institutional compliance, without direct public financing. In addition, the General Directorate for Accreditation, Authentication, and Equivalency is responsible for academic accreditation, quality assurance standards, certification and equivalency of qualifications, and the regulation of related fees.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
No funding mechanisms are found for transferring resources from the central government to local governments for public higher education in Yemen. Public higher institutions are financed directly by the state rather than through local governments, as stipulated in the Higher Education Law. The law assigns responsibility for higher education financing to the government alongside policy formulation and planning and mandates the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to support public universities in securing the resources necessary for their operation.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
According to the Higher Education Law, there is no explicit provision mandating direct public funding of private universities, including in areas where no public university is available. While the law assigns the government overall responsibility for financing higher education institutions and specifically mandates support for public universities in securing the resources necessary for their operation, it does not provide for the allocation of state budget funds to private or non-public institutions. Private institutions remain subject to ministerial oversight, including regulation of establishment, recognition, accreditation, and quality assurance.
Allocation and equity
No evidence was found of defined mechanisms of how government subsidies are allocated to public higher education institutions.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
No specific admission criteria for vulnerable groups were identified in Yemen’s higher education legislation. According to the article 26 of General Education Law, admission to higher education institutions is based on performance in a nationally administered secondary examination.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
No evidence was found of government-operated scholarship, grant, or student loan schemes for higher education students.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation, Accommodation & Textbooks
No evidence was found of government support for student transportation, accommodation, or textbooks in Yemen's higher education system. These supports are typically provided by international organizations or NGOs. While not part of a national scheme, discussions to improve student housing at Sana’a University have taken place at the ministerial and institutional levels.
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