adminGeorge Maponga in Bikita
FEMALE students at Mukore High School in Bikita were allegedly forced to undergo pregnancy tests at a local clinic recently after authorities suspected they could be pregnant.
It is believed male pupils from Mukore and neighbouring Marirangwe went into a sex frenzy after some of them underwent voluntary male circumcision a few months ago.
Unconfirmed reports claimed 30 pupils fell pregnant this term alone. Authorities at the two schools were tight-lipped when our Harare Bureau sought comment.
Sources said the tests confirmed that only two pupils were pregnant.
The sources said authorities at Mukore High dispatched one of the teachers to purchase pregnancy tests kits in Masvingo.
“At Mukore, the tests revealed that two pupils (one in Form 2 and the other in Form 4) were pregnant while the majority came out negative. The tests were conducted at Mukore Clinic after authorities suspected that many pupils could be pregnant,” said a teacher at Mukore High, who refused to be named for fear of victimisation.
School authorities at Mukore are said to have succumbed to pressure from parents and villagers to test the pupils when word spread that a good number of them had fallen pregnant.
James Maera, a village head in Mukore, said villagers suspected that most of the pupils started indulging in sexual activities to “experiment” after being circumcised.
“At first we heard reports that as many as 24 pupils were pregnant at Mukore High School but when we investigated, we found out that there were only a few who were carrying babies but authorities said many pupils at the school had changed their sexual behaviour after being circumcised,’’ he said.
Masvingo provincial education director Zedeus Chitiga said he could only comment after instituting investigations.
“We are busy carrying out research on the ground to establish what actually transpired and before results of that research are out it would be premature for me to comment on that issue,” he said.
derick.khumalo