A ROW has erupted between a Form 3 pregnant student and
school authorities at St Anne’s Goto High School in Wedza with the former
accusing the administration of violating her rights after expelling her from the
institution in September this year.
The girl (name withheld) is fighting to be readmitted to
the Anglican-run school after she was expelled for falling pregnant.
According to a letter dated September 23 and signed by the
school head only identified as KK Mutseyekwa and addressed to the girl’s
guardians, the pupil’s expulsion became necessary when she fell pregnant.
The school authorities said the move was in the best
interests of the school and the unborn child.
“I regret to advise you that I have reason to believe that
your daughter in Form 3 fell pregnant while at school. It is in the best
interest of the school, the learner and the child to be born that she be
allowed to take leave from the school,” the letter read.
In her affidavit stamped at Mukamba Police Station in Wedza
on October 2, the 18-year-old girl, who is an orphan pleaded with government to
intervene so that she could go back to school.
“I plead with the government authorities and Constitutional
Court to assist by ensuring that I go back to St Anne’s Goto High School. I am
pregnant and the school authorities expelled me on September 24, 2018, because
of my condition. My boyfriend committed suicide in August 2018. My biological
parents separated a long-time ago and grew up with my grandmother. I want to
resume studies with others this term at the same school, hence the need for
your assistance,” part of the affidavit read.
Efforts to get a comment from the school authorities were
fruitless yesterday.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe Mashonaland East
provincial chairperson Tapiwa Chengeta confirmed the case and said the school
violated the girl’s rights.
“We have an obligation to safeguard not only the teachers
who are our members, but also the pupils who are our stakeholders. To us,
expelling the girl is a violation of circular P35 which gives exceptions to the
girl child in the event of pregnancy. It is also a violation of the child’s
constitutional right to education.
“We intend to take the issue through our legal department
and the relevant education authorities. An innocent child cannot suffer because
of rotten implementation of the statute. We stand guided by the regulations,”
he said. Newsday
0 comments:
Post a Comment