SCHOOLGIRLS who fall pregnant while at school must not be
expelled but be allowed to continue with their studies if they wish to proceed
as provided for by Statutory Instruments 362 and 363 of 1998, an official has
said.
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Matabeleland
South Legal Services and Discipline officer Mrs Sihle Nkala told delegates who
attended a Masakhaneni Projects Trust conference in Bulawayo last week that
heads and school authorities were not empowered to dismiss pregnant pupils. Mrs
Nkala said all schools and their heads that expel female learners after they
fall pregnant were violating the policy which is entailed in document P35 of
the Ministry.
“Our policy is that all children should go to school. This
is provided for by the Constitution which says every citizen has a right to
education and as such pregnant school girls are also children and citizens. The
policy says the head, after finding out, should contact the parents of the girl
first and summon them to the school. After informing the parents and
determining whether the pregnancy was a result of mutually consented sex or
rape, the parents should make a decision whether the girl remains in school or
drops out,” said Mrs Nkala.
She said if the parents are willing that their child
continue learning, schools should provide support systems as set out by the
Ministry’s policy. The support systems include guidance and counselling as well
as constant monitoring. She, however, said the policy was not applicable to
boys who must be expelled from school if they impregnate a female learner.
Mrs Nkala said a boy who impregnate another learner must be
expelled and wait for a year before readmitted at another school.
The ministry, she added, introduced non-formal education in
2015 to cater for 1,2 million school drop outs who fell by the sideway due to
different reasons. She said the programme allowed drop outs to further their
academic education or acquire vocational training. Masakhaneni Trust has been
working with schools and the ministry to try and help girls who would have
dropped out of school to return to the class. Sunday News
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