Spare a thought for pregnant girls, as schools reopen

Sunday Mail Reporter

YOUNG mothers and pregnant girls, especially those from farming communities, should have access to quality education just like their peers, as a fulfilment of Government’s principle of “leaving no one behind”, a local organisation has said.

Schools will reopen on Tuesday but a number of young girls will miss out due to pregnancy or early motherhood.

The Farming Community Educational Trust (FACET) is working with Government in a bid to ensure a smooth return to school for young mothers and pregnant girls from farming areas like Mazowe and Glendale in Mashonaland Central.

“Schools are about to open and we are encouraging all the young people out there who are not going to school for various reasons to consider going back to school,” FACET projects coordinator Mrs Respect Tsvanhu said.

One of Government’s key goals is to provide quality education to all, as enunciated by the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 4).

However, hundreds of girls who fall victim to early marriages or early pregnancies, sadly fall out of the formal education system.

Mrs Tsvanhu feels Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) should take the lead in complementing Government’s efforts to facilitate access to education for girls living in marginalised areas like farms.

“We are advocating for the successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal 4, which ensures inclusive and equitable education for all,” she said.

“It will be good if the Government can do something about the young mothers because they do have a lot of responsibilities.

“They are supposed to take care of the baby yet they are also still young. At the same time, they also need the same educational opportunities as their counterparts.

“Yet, the young fathers who are responsible for these pregnancies, are still continuing with school.”

FACET facilitated the return to school for girls aged between 15 and 16 from Heyshot and Glengery Major Brown Farms in Mazowe.

“We are trying our best although we face challenges from some communities who are against this concept,” she said.

“It is our wish that Government can help us support Statutory Instrument P35 under the Ministry of Education regulation, which supports the retention of pregnant girls and young mothers in schools, by supporting them financially, by letting them be involved and maybe waiver fees for them.

“Or find means of financing them or even if they can also be included under the BEAM funding despite their status.”