Girls who fall pregnant during the course of their studies
are set to enjoy ‘maternity vacation’ before returning to continue with their
education after giving birth.
The privileges are provided in the Education Bill that is
currently under debate in the National Assembly, where legislators are showing
support for the clause.
Advocates of girl child rights have also hailed the
proposals they describe as positive in affording the girls a chance to continue
with studies. Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul
Mavima recently told legislators that allowing the girls to take a vacation and
continue with studies was in line with the National Constitution that advocates
non-discrimination.
“There is an issue that has generated a lot of interest
among the parliamentarians; and this is the issue of exclusion on account of
pregnancy, and the fundamental basis of the inclusion of this issue is premised
on Section 75 of the Constitution, which speaks against discrimination,” said
Minister Mavima.
“The current practice in our education system has it that
if two form four learners have an affair and end up impregnating each other —
the male student can continue with his education, but the female student
cannot, yet section 75 of our Constitution bans discrimination on the basis of
gender or sex and it is the basis upon which this item was included in our Bill.”
A number of pregnant girls drop out of school because of
current policies that bar them from studies whilst expecting.
Parliament instituted public hearings on the Education
Amendment Bill with various stakeholders seconding the provision to allow
pregnant learners to take a break and resume studies after birth.
MDC-T Bulawayo National Assembly proportional
representation member Ms Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga told The Sunday Mail
that; “All we are doing is to give a chance not only to the girl, but to the
unborn child.
“Those who impregnate, are usually your older selfish
predatory males who go scotfree and never help with anything.
She added that society must move away from entirely blaming
and punishing the pregnant learners.
Shamwari Yemwanasikana executive director Mrs Ukenia
Chifamba-Chidodo said education was key in fighting inequalities between girls
and boys. She welcomed the move to afford pregnant school girls a
chance to education.
“With such high records in teen pregnancy, it means we are
losing so many girls as they often drop out from school because of pregnancy,”
said Mrs Chifamba-Chododo.
“We believe education is the most important right that
should be a source of weapon to fight any form of inequality.
“Girls always bear the burden of carrying the pregnancy and
dropping out of school while the boy child is safe and continues with
education.”
According to a Ministry of Health and Child Care, United
Nations Population Fund and Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council latest
report, 19 percent of female adolescents between 15-19 years are pregnant.
Lawyer and gender equality activist Ms Jessie Majome hailed
the move of maternity leave for school girls.
“It is a positive development that goes beyond paying lip
service to the constitutional guarantees to the rights to education, of the
child, and to equality and protection from discrimination.
Zimbabwe has recorded the highest teen pregnancy rate in
Sub-Saharan Africa with figures of between 500 000 and 700 000 annually in 2017
statistics. Sunday Mail
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