Teachers throughout Yemen went on strike during April, demanding salary increases previously agreed with the government be honoured. It was reported that striking teachers were replaced with volunteers and absent teachers were dismissed. The government told private schools that they would lose their licence if their teachers continued to strike. One source reported beatings and threats to striking teachers. The teachers have little legal protection as the civil service law states that if a teacher is absent for 20 consecutive days he or she will be dismissed.
The Yemeni Teachers Syndicate (YTS) and its members have been particularly exposed by the repression as they have been active since the beginning of the uprising in February. At least 40 YTS members were killed during the protests in 2011.