Taiz University has been closed for over a month Hundreds of students from Yemen's Taiz University who could not sit their first term exams due to an academic strike, have offered to sell their textbooks for 20 rial ($1) each in protest against the government's "disregard for education."
Students released a statement demanding the continuation of studies and threatened to block the city's main roads. They blamed Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, Prime Minister Mohammed Basindawa and Minister of Higher Education Hisham Sharaf for the escalation in protests.
The university's doors have been shut for over a month following a strike by teaching staff and other employees who are protesting against corruption, and demanding the dismissal of several top university officials.
The Governor of Taiz, Shawki Hael, had called on President Hadi to appoint a new board at the university, while Sharaf told reporters that the president and prime minister would only make a decision once laws governing university administration and boards of trustees were approved.
More than 30,000 students are enrolled at Taiz University, which lies 3000 kilometres south of Sanaa.