Yemen 's constitution grants all citizens the right to an education. Nevertheless, the country's educational system, probably better in the south than in the north, still fails to reach a large part of the population, especially above the primary grades. In 1998-1999, 78 percent of the primary school-age population in Yemen was enrolled; while enrollment was nearly universal for boys, only 56 percent of girls attended school. Public schools exist in larger towns and cities, and children in most rural areas attend Islamic religious schools. Just 50 percent of Yemen 's adult population is literate. Secondary schools in Yemen now funnel many students into Sana 'a University (1970) and the University of Aden (1975), both of which have grown rapidly since the 1970s.
