4557 teenage pregnancy dropouts recorded last year

Nyashadzashe Ndoro

Chief Reporter

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has revealed that 4557 girls dropped out of school due to pregnancy between January 2023 and December 2023, with the majority (3942) coming from rural schools.

The alarming statistic has prompted calls for urgent action to address the issue.

In a response to a question posed by opposition MP Mutsa Murombedzi in Parliament, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Tererai Moyo, acknowledged the gravity of the situation and outlined measures being taken to curb the problem.

These include the introduction of Guidance and Counselling in schools and the provision of legal frameworks to enable pregnant girls to continue their education.

"Therefore, for the year ending December, 2023, 4557 girls dropped out of school due to pregnancy, the majority of these (3 942) being from rural schools," the Minister stated.

"There were 134 girls who dropped out of primary school as a result of pregnancy, meaning that the majority of drop-outs were recorded in secondary schools.

"It is important to note that the Ministry has instituted several measures to curb this problem, one of which is the introduction of Guidance and Counselling in schools. Through the Education Act, the Ministry has also ensured that the legal provisions are there to enable girls who fall pregnant to continue with their education."

Murombedzi further expressed concern over the high dropout rate, despite efforts by the Ministry, and asked if there were plans to provide free vocational training for these girls, particularly in rural areas.

Moyo replied that the Ministry offers technical and vocational skills training as part of its Heritage-Based curriculum and encourages girls who drop out to continue their education through non-formal education programs.

The Minister was also asked about the effectiveness of the Second Chance Education policy in integrating affected learners back into school and addressing stigma.

He responded that the Ministry had a department dedicated to learner welfare and learner services, which provides psycho-social support to students. He also highlighted the support of partners like CAMFED, which provides scholarships for girls who have dropped out.

A recent Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency report indicated that between September 2021 and August 2022, over 20 000 girls dropped out of school after falling pregnant.

The report further stated that the lack of access to contraceptives for teenagers was among other reasons why there was a spike in unplanned teenage pregnancies.

According to a recent survey conducted by child rights organisation Zvandiri, a staggering 95% of teenage pregnancies were reported to be unplanned, with poverty being the primary underlying factor.