The Sunday Mail
Veronica Gwaze
RUTENDO BANDA fell pregnant in 2003 when she was in high school in Chitungwiza. Her parents found out and forced her to drop out of school just weeks before her final-year examinations. Although they forced her to get married to the man responsible for her pregnancy, it did not work out as planned.
“I pleaded with them to write my examinations, but they, together with the school, would not let me. In fact, my parents forced me to elope.
“The man who impregnated me fled to South Africa,” said the 35-year-old Banda.
She gave birth and enrolled at her former school.
However, she later dropped out again as she found the environment at school untenable since fellow learners used to poke fun at her, which took an unbearable emotional toll.
She resorted to private tutors and fortunately managed to attain six Ordinary Level subjects.
“It was tough because tutors are expensive, but going back to a public school was not an option.”
She now has a decent job.
But stories of girls who fall pregnant at school, especially public schools in rural areas, do not always have a happy ending.
Most of them are usually damned and condemned to a tough life.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) estimates that 24 percent of adolescents between 15 and 19 years of age fall pregnant while in school.
New Era
Government has since stepped in to create a safety net that ensures girls who are unfortunate enough to fall into such unenviable circumstances are given an equal and fair shot at life.
The new Education Act, which came into force on August 21, prohibits State (public) schools from expelling or excluding girls who fall pregnant from attending lessons, among wide-ranging reforms in the education sector.
The same law outlaws corporal punishment and the exclusion of learners for non-payment of school fees.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema said the new law was part of progressive efforts to ensure gender equality and to invest in girls.
“There has been a continued increase in school drop-outs, especially due to pregnancy, particularly in rural areas,” he said.
“However, most of these pregnancies are a result of various circumstances, which makes it unfair to have them punished.
“We are not encouraging them (to fall pregnant), but we are also saying in all fairness they deserve another chance; that is also the only way we can promote gender equality.”
The new law, he added, is another vehicle for the empowerment of women and girls.
Exploitation
Girl Child Network national coordinator Ms Shingayi Nyirenda believes the “noble move” would likely guarantee equal access to education for all learners and address gender-based disparities.
“Critically, we have to address the root causes of circumstances leading to a significant percentage of the girls falling pregnant.
“As highlighted by UNPF, 24 percent of girls become mothers while in school. This percentage is too much and in a way it highlights injustices inflicted upon the young girls,” she said.
She implored Government to channel more effort towards safeguarding minors from becoming victims of sexual exploitation and discouraging early sexual activity through introducing social workers in schools.
Ms Nyirenda said: “Our focus must be on campaigns aimed at reducing adolescent pregnancies and ensuring that these girls are not exposed to stigma and discrimination, otherwise the law may hold no value.” Statistics from Shamwari Yemwanasikana, an NGO, indicate that there were 30 school drop-outs in Manicaland last year due to pregnancy, 25 in Chitungwiza, 20 in Mashonaland East and 14 in Harare.
Its director, Ms Ekenia Chifamba, said the old law was a systematic barrier that prevented girls from realising their full academic potential.
“Now we anticipate to see more girls competing for academic opportunities,” she said.
Traditional leaders and teachers, she opines, have to take a lead in ensuring that pregnant girls are embraced in schools and communities.
“Teachers become central on how they will relate with the pregnant lot. They should strategise on how best to safeguard the pregnant and those who are not.”
Chief Donald Kamba of the Makoni Chieftaincy agrees that traditional leaders have to play a pivotal role in ensuring that pregnant girls remain in school, including discouraging child marriages.
“Mostly when a girl gets pregnant, parents have a tendency of forcing them into marriage; therefore, as traditional leaders, we should be the eyes of the society.
“It may be morally weird to accept but society is dynamic, it is time to confront and embrace the new societies,” said Chief Kamba.
Some experts say implementation of the new policy should be tied to campaigns to enlighten girls on the dangers of indulging in sexual activities.
Girl Guides Association of Zimbabwe (GGAZ) public relations officer Ms Florence Dangarembizi said it must be made clear that the new law does not countenance or condone sexual activities among school-going ages.
“As an association, we deal much with school-going ages and we have seen girls dropping out of schools for different reasons, mostly pregnancy,” she said.
“It must be clear that the new law is not a licence to be sexually active because being pregnant while in school comes with challenges.
“The boys, on the other hand, need to be educated too . . . so the implementation part calls for collective effort.”
Ms Dangarembizi, however, reckons that voluntary drop-outs might be a new headache as stigmatisation of pregnant girls by fellow learners cannot be ruled out.
GGAZ has crafted programmes like “Free Being Me” and “Action on Body Confidence” aimed at morally grooming girls and enlightening them on sexual reproductive health.
Rural areas
The challenge of pregnancy-fuelled school drop-outs is usually keenly felt in rural areas.
Ms Talent Jumo, the director of Katswe Sistahood, said: “I may not have the figures but girls in rural areas are affected more.
“During the first half of this year, more than 10 girls dropped out of school in Mbire (Mashonalad Central) due to pregnancy.”
Girls need to be supported rather than being pushed, she said.
Potential pitfalls
The amended Education Act is expected to come with its own challenges.
Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) psychologist Dr Molly Manyonganise said the new law needs sufficient guardrails that facilitate its seamless implementation since allowing pregnant girls in schools is inherently challenging.
Apart from tutoring, the teachers will have to assume the role of nursing the pregnant students, especially those who may fall sick in class. While it will be inevitable to attend to the needs of the pregnancy, Manyonganise feels this may negatively influence other students into thinking that being pregnant while in school is acceptable.
“A pregnant girl requires special treatment different from the rest, which is going to be problematic.
“There are challenges that go with pregnancy, giving birth and breastfeeding. So are they going to give the girl maternity leave?
“While on leave, are teachers going to stop teaching other children? If not, how is the one on leave going to catch up with others?”
This, she said, might force most pregnant girls to voluntarily drop out of school.
In the circumstances, it was, therefore, advisable to channel more efforts in educating learners on the dangers of falling pregnant while in school, she said.
Experts believe there is need to put structures that deter girls from engaging in sexual activities while in school.
While parents might be split on the new law, for Rutendo Banda, had the law come into existence during her time, it might have saved her the ignominy of pursuing her right to education through the back door.
