59. (iii) Library Facilities. The lack of an adequate<sup>library</sup> collection is a major constraint upon the<sup>functioning of both students and</sup> staff. In particular, teaching and research<sup>warrant the availability and</sup> familiarity with the latest scientific and<sup>scholarly publications. Neglect of</sup> this will result in an intellectual poverty<sup>of the curriculum andof</sup> the quality and quantity of research output.<sup>The collections both in the main and</sup> satellite are inadequate, mostly out-of-date textbooks,<sup>inappropriate books</sup> and journals. They are not conmputerized.<sup>The library is experiencing a</sup> critical shortage of funds to acquire current<sup>titles of textbooks, either</sup> appropriate scholarly books and periodicals;<sup>of the 1988/89 allocation of YRl</sup> 10 million to the library, some 66% went<sup>to subsidizing student</sup> textbooks.Because of an acute shortage of library<sup>staff, the satellite</sup> libraries in the Faculties of Commerce,<sup>Education and Medicine are kept</sup> closed. Students solely depend on textbooks and lecture<sup>notes offered for</sup> sale by their course professors or lecturers.

# (e) Administration

60. University administration is highly centralized<sup>and under direct</sup> government control, particularly in the<sup>areas of authority, administration and</sup> finance. This limits the University autonomy,<sup>thus the flexibility and</sup> initiative of the various faculties and directorates<sup>is curtailed. As a</sup> result, the University does not possess<sup>the in-built administrative mechanisms</sup> as well as adequate independent contingency<sup>resources needed to handle demands</sup> of the magnitude it faces now because of<sup>high student and staff numbers.</sup> 61. The majority of the Yemeni academic staff are<sup>relatively young with</sup> little experience or adequate training in<sup>teaching, research and</sup> administration. There are hardly any mentors<sup>to guide them. Apart from the</sup> evidence of educational and professional<sup>qualifications, promotion within the</sup> University is based on research and publications,<sup>length of service and</sup> experience. The current emphasis on rapid<sup>Yeminization has resulted in senior</sup> faculty administrative positions being occupied<sup>by inexperienced and</sup> unqualified administrators. A similar situation<sup>prevails in the various non-</sup> academic support services of the University. Early<sup>diversion into</sup> administration, hampers Yemen academic staff's development<sup>as teachers and</sup> researchers. Therefore, unless present policies<sup>are reviewed there is every</sup> possibility of further deterioration of the overall<sup>academic quality and</sup> management efficiency that was apparent in the<sup>University.</sup> In particular, the University's reco-ds including enrollment data<sup>and student records are kept</sup> manually. They are in a dismal state.

# (f) Student Flows

62. There is a high percentage of dropouts and repeaters,<sup>particularly</sup> in the first and second years of study. The<sup>overall success rate, measured by</sup> the number of students enrolled in the first year<sup>in 1980/81 to the number</sup> graduated after four years in 1983/84 shows a low<sup>efficiency rate of 20.5%.</sup> This is attributed to a variety of factors: (i)<sup>the lack of sufficient</sup> preparation at the primary and post-p.!mary<sup>schools, (ii) automatic admissions</sup> to all secondary school graduates, irrespective<sup>of their ability to benefit</sup> from a higher education, (iii) the poor quality<sup>of instruction, (iv) students</sup>

- 23 -