Headmasters Warned Against Excluding Returning Mothers Who Wish To Continue Education
The government has warned headmasters against turning away learners who will have fallen pregnant but want to continue with their education after giving birth.
This follows reports that some schools have been denying girls the chance to resume their education after giving birth arguing that they are a “bad influence” to other learners and “an embarrassment” to the school.
Director of Communications and Advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Taungana Ndoro, said school heads who discriminate against learners who would have become mothers will be held accountable.
Speaking to State media, Ndoro said it is against government policy for school heads to deny female learners a chance to continue with their education after giving birth. Said Ndoro:
We don’t have reports yet but that is not to say it is not happening. The Ministry takes a strong stance against school heads who defy clear instructions and guidelines on this matter.
We will be taking disciplinary action against any administrators found to be turning away or discriminating against returning learners.
We are committed to enforcing our policies and holding school authorities accountable.
To the school authorities who defy Government orders and deny access to returning pregnant learners – this practice is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
You have a moral and legal obligation to provide these pupils with an education, regardless of their circumstances.
I strongly urge you to immediately review your enrolment policies, remove any discriminatory barriers, and ensure these pupils are welcomed back with open arms. Failure to comply will result in serious consequences.
The Education Amendment Act of 2020 stipulates that girls in school who fall pregnant are now allowed to continue with their education after giving birth.
In the past, pregnant schoolgirls would be expelled from school and fail to complete their studies while boys who were sometimes responsible for the pregnancies were allowed to continue with formal education.
Official statistics indicate that the country had close to 6000 teenage pregnancies during the COVID-19 national lockdown and these girls dropped out of school and were unable to return to school.
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