Yemeni academic strike continues

Lecturers are protesting against legislation Sanaa - Arabstoday A strike from academics at Yemen’s top universities which began last month has shown no sign of easing, leaving students frustrated. Several students were unable to complete exams in January because of a lack of examiners, and the strike movement continues to grow at Universities of Sanaa, Dhamar, Taiz, Ibb and Amran. The protest began after government legislation prevented staff members from taking specific roles at the institutions. Mohammed al-Absi, a spokesperson for Sanaa University's syndicate workers commented: "The staff is refusing the amendments because it deprives them of their right to elect university rectors or secretary-generals." He stated that the position of a university rector is not academic but managerial, as they have the right to appoint and fire workers, and administrative staff should therefore be eligible to fill the positions.    Alabsi continued: "These amendments will not be passed unless the workers approve them. They were set up in favour of academic figures and at the expense of administrative staff."