Barran Press - Stories
Abdulkarim Mufleh Al-Hadhery, a young orphan from Marib, received a call from the Minister of Education of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, Tareq Salem Al-Abkari, on Wednesday, September 4th, 2024. The Minister congratulated him on achieving fourth place in the national high school exams and first place in Marib province for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Minister Al-Akbari intended to speak with Abdulkarim's father, commending his efforts in his son's education and support for his success. However, he was surprised to learn that Abdulkarim's father had passed away seven years ago.
Barran Press Visits the Triumphant Student
Barran Press visited Abdulkarim at his home in Hareeb (south of Marib) to congratulate him on his achievement and conduct an interview. They discussed his feelings about his success, how he achieved it, the role of his family, and his message to those who supported him throughout his educational journey.
With a radiant smile, Abdulkarim expressed his joy at securing first place in Marib and fourth place nationwide in the science stream with a score of 99.38%. He considered this "a great achievement for me."
Abdulkarim explained that since the beginning of high school, he dedicated all his abilities and time to his studies, describing those days as "filled with hard work and dedication." He believed that "high school is a stage of building and giving" and recognized it as "a stage of building a young person scientifically." This led him to believe that he "needed to be prepared when entering high school, intensify his efforts, work hard, and persevere."
A Journey of Excellence
Abdulkarim's academic success is not new. From first grade to third year of high school, he consistently maintained the top position. He told Barran Press, "I used to get top marks, so when I told my family about my success, they weren't surprised. It seemed familiar and didn't require any special celebration."
This success was not unexpected for Abdulkarim himself. He was confident of his success because, as he said, "I entered the national exams on July 18th and exited knowing my level."
Not only was Abdulkarim confident in his success, but he also knew about a minor error in one of his answers, which cost him half a mark. The final result came as he expected. He told Barran Press, "I expected to get 99.25, but the result was better than I anticipated." He believes this "shows the accuracy and credibility of the Ministry of Education in the results and the quality of the grading standards."
Awards and Recognition
Abdulkarim participated in numerous competitions, winning first place in the second round of the Governor's Award competition, held in 2020, and first place in the chemistry competition for second-year high school students at the provincial level. He also secured first place in several other practical competitions.
Thanks to his brilliance, his school consistently won first place in all the competitions it participated in, except for the Scientific Forum competition in 2023, where they achieved second place at the provincial level.
God and Mother
Behind every success lies a supportive force. Abdulkarim attributes his success, "after God Almighty," to his mother. He considers her "my first support after the passing of my father, may God have mercy on him."
Abdulkarim's mother "exerted all her effort, energy, and time, and dedicated everything she had to my education and success," said the successful student. He told Barran Press that she "paid great attention to my education."
"The mother is the foundation and the maker of men," Abdulkarim said in his conversation with Barran Press. He added, "Although my mother was illiterate, she was concerned about education and understood its importance. She played the primary, greatest, and most prominent role in my success."
A Family Committed to Education
In the heart of Marib province, 18-year-old Abdul Karim thrives in a family that deeply values education. He reflects, “I am the only hope for my family, as my father and siblings were deprived of schooling due to their exile abroad.” Despite this, he acknowledges their unwavering support: “They recognized the importance of education and focused their efforts on me.”
Abdul Karim credits his late father, who passed away in 2017, with instilling a passion for learning. “My father was very dedicated to my education,” he recalls. Following his death, the entire family rallied around him—his mother, siblings, and even his uncles, particularly his uncle Hussein Muslimani, who stepped in as a father figure.
The Hreib district is not untouched by the devastating conflict that has plagued Yemen, particularly in Marib. The Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization, seized control of the city after capturing the capital, Sanaa, in late 2014.
In March 2016, government forces liberated Hreib, but it was retaken by the Houthis in 2021, only to be reclaimed again in early 2022. This turbulent backdrop has significantly impacted the educational landscape, leading many experienced teachers to flee and leaving schools lacking essential administrative staff. Abdul Karim notes, “The shortage of teaching staff severely affects the educational process.”
Though he finds the extended academic calendar exhausting, he believes it is crucial for completing the curriculum and enhancing learning.
Abdul Karim’s joy extends beyond himself to those who have supported his achievements. He expressed gratitude to his family, especially his mother, who has been his pillar of strength, as well as to his teachers at Al-Thawra School, whom he credits as partners in his success. Key figures include Quran and Islamic Education teacher Khaled Abd Rabbu Azban, Arabic teacher Ali bin Ali Al-Haddad, English teacher Muhib Al-Maqatari, Mathematics teacher Omar Muhammad Abdullah Al-Haj, Physics teacher A'id Abdulaziz Al-Selwi, Chemistry teacher Akram Al-Mashooli, and Biology teacher Muhammad Al-Rajhi.
He also acknowledged the influence of teachers who did not directly instruct him but contributed to his success, such as Biology teacher Salem Khamees Al-Najjar and Chemistry supervisor Ibrahim Dinesh and the mathematics teacher Hamoud Abdullah Sharid, thanking the former principal of the high school Ali Abdul Rabbo Oawidan.
Additionally, Abdul Karim credits online educators like Muhammad Al-Dokari, who provides valuable lessons in physics and mathematics through his YouTube channel, “Student Friend,” encouraging fellow students to take advantage of these resources.
In an interview with Barran Press, Abdul Karim expressed his heartfelt thanks to Marib Governor Sultan Al-Aradah for his commitment to education, as well as to Minister of Education Tarek Al-Aqba and his deputy, Dr. Ali Al-Abab. He also recognized the contributions of the former director of education in Hreib, Salem bin Saleh Al-Aqeeli, and Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Aksar.
He extended appreciation to all who support education, emphasizing their vital role in his achievements.
Since the announcement of his results, Abdul Karim has been inundated with congratulations from across the nation and abroad. He has received symbolic gifts from local dignitaries and businesses.
Through Barran Press, Abdul Karim thanked everyone who reached out to congratulate him, including Minister of Education Tarek Al-Salem Al-Aqba, Deputy Interior Minister Major General Salem Aboud, and local leaders.