ZISPA Urges Action After 16 Pregnant Girls Denied ...

ZISPA Urges Action After 16 Pregnant Girls Denied Exams

Rutendo Mazhindu

Zim Now Writer

Sixteen pregnant girls from Mbire were recently denied the opportunity to sit for their Grade 7 exams, sparking widespread outrage and prompting the Zimbabwe Inadequately Served Populations Alliance to call for urgent reforms.

In a statement, ZISPA highlighted the systemic barriers that led to this exclusion, framing it as a significant failure in the country’s ability to support and protect adolescent girls, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

"This incident is more than unfortunate—it reveals a broader failure in our systems to properly care for and safeguard adolescent girls, especially those living in remote and disadvantaged areas," the ZISPA statement read.

ZISPA expressed deep concern that the rights of these girls were undermined, despite Zimbabwe’s commitments to gender equality and universal education under both national policies and international agreements.

The exclusion of these pregnant girls from their exams shines a light on critical gaps in Zimbabwe's education and healthcare systems. ZISPA pointed to various barriers that prevent pregnant girls from continuing their education, including limited access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights services and Comprehensive Sexuality Education both essential tools in preventing early pregnancies and empowering girls to make informed decisions about their futures.

In rural areas such as Mbire, many girls lack access to vital SRHR services, including contraception, maternal healthcare, and family planning resources. According to ZISPA, these young women often face severe stigma from their families, communities, and schools, discouraging them from either pursuing or resuming their education during pregnancy.

This social stigma, combined with economic pressures, forces many adolescent mothers to prioritize caregiving over their studies, thereby severely limiting their future opportunities.

While these girls were not officially barred from sitting for their exams, ZISPA noted that the barriers they encountered were rooted in a lack of support systems and resources within the education sector. The organization stressed that the pregnancies of schoolgirls are frequently the result of insufficient access to SRHR services, CSE, and societal stigma, all of which contribute to the exclusion of pregnant girls from education.

ZISPA underscored Zimbabwe's obligations to gender equality and inclusive education, as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4 and 5, which focus on eliminating barriers to girls’ education and promoting gender equality. Zimbabwe is also a signatory to the Eastern and Southern Africa Commitment, which aims to enhance CSE and SRHR services to prevent unintended pregnancies and keep adolescent girls in school.

Despite these commitments, ZISPA expressed frustration with the lack of progress on the ground. The incident in Mbire highlights the urgent need for stronger policy reforms, increased resources, and societal change to ensure that girls, particularly pregnant ones, are not left behind.

To address this crisis, ZISPA has issued several urgent recommendations: Enhanced Implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education, provision of Adolescent-Friendly SRHR Services,, Support Systems for Pregnant Adolescents: Schools and communities and strengthening Community and Parental Engagement: ZISPA called for community-driven awareness campaigns to challenge harmful cultural norms and gender stereotypes that put girls at risk.

The alliance emphasized that parents, guardians, and community leaders must be actively involved in promoting the value of girls’ education and combating the stigma around adolescent pregnancies.

ZISPA reaffirmed its belief that every girl, regardless of her circumstances, deserves the right to education and the chance to realize her full potential.

"The 16 girls in Mbire who were unable to sit for their exams due to pregnancy are a stark reminder of the gaps in our systems and the urgent need for policy reforms, resource allocation, and societal transformation,” ZISPA concluded.