Concern over rising school drop-outs from teenage pregnancies

GOVERNMENT has expressed grave concern over the increasing number of school drop-outs due to teenage pregnancies, particularly in rural areas, and has launched a multi-stakeholder approach to tackle the issue.

Among its strategies is a partnership with traditional leaders and organisations like Campaign for Female Education (Camfed) aimed at addressing this alarming trend.

The country last year recorded over 4 000 school drop-outs due to pregnancy, with rural areas bearing the brunt of the crisis.

According to shocking statistics released by the Government two months ago, 4 557 girls left school last year because of pregnancy. Of these, 3 942 were from rural schools, while 615 were from urban schools. A total of 134 pregnant girls were still in primary school.

In an interview on the sidelines of a Camfed national stakeholders’ annual meeting in Bulawayo on Wednesday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Mr Moses Mhike, said Mashonaland Central districts top the list of provinces with the highest number of pregnancy-related school drop-outs, attributing it mining activities around Shamva and Mbire.

He, however, could not provide the latest statistics. Last month, 16 pupils at Monozi Primary School in Mbire District failed to sit for the Grade Seven Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) examinations after falling pregnant.

At least 680 girls between 10 and 14 fell pregnant in Zimbabwe in the first half of last year, that being the number who came to the notice of the Ministry of Health and Child Care although there were probably some extra who never sought medical attention or whose family blocked medical attention.

Mr Mhike said as a result of poor family backgrounds most young girls are easily lured into sexual activities by gold panners.

“The pregnancy rate for our school-going girl teenagers is a cause of concern for the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education as well as the Government. If you remember recently there was a video clip posted by The Herald where about 10 teenage girls had dropped out of school for marriage in Mbire, that is not a good thing,” he said.

Mr Mhike said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is working with various Government departments and agencies and partners to tackle teenage pregnancies and school drop-outs.

He said they have come up with various strategies aimed at addressing the scourge.

“As a ministry, we have come up with a policy to make sure that even if this child has fallen pregnant, she is still able to go back to school and continue with her education. We made this position abundantly clear to provincial education officers as well as district schools inspectors and indeed school heads,” said Mr Mhike.

“We are happy to announce as well that we have engaged some chiefs especially where child marriage was seen as culturally accepted. We seem to be winning as some chiefs have come out to say no child will be married off in their areas of jurisdiction.”

In his keynote address to the delegates, Mr Mhike noted that Camfed has supported over 2,5 million girls in Zimbabwe with bursary support from 1993 to date. The organisation is now operating in 42 rural districts across the country’s eight rural provinces. This year, Camfed assisted 18 000 girls with bursaries in several schools across Zimbabwe.

He said the organisation offers several specific programmes to support girls’ education and empower young women.

“Key achievements realised so far, in collaboration with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education include financial support where Camfed has provided scholarships to cover school fees, uniforms, shoes, sanitary wear and learning materials for girls from low-income families,” said Mr Mhike.

“They are also providing mentorship programmes, life skills training, community engagement, school infrastructure support as well as post-school support.”

Mr Mhike said the programmes create a holistic support system that focuses not only on education but also on personal development and community involvement.

He said Camfed’s efforts exemplify an embracive approach to empowering marginalised girls through innovative mentorship programmes.

“One of the most impactful initiatives is the Learner Guide and Peer Educator Programme where young female graduates mentor vulnerable girls, providing essential life skills and support through the My Better World initiative. Furthermore, Camfed’s commitment to continuous learning is evident in its collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Global Campaign for Education,” said Mr Mhike.