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HomeEDUCATIONBan Pregnant Teens from Resuming School, Governor Lusaka Proposes

Ban Pregnant Teens from Resuming School, Governor Lusaka Proposes

Ban Pregnant Teens from Resuming School, Governor Lusaka Proposes

Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, in a press briefing at his residence last Saturday, proposed the prohibition of pregnant teenagers from resuming their studies as a measure to mitigate the crisis prevalent in the county.

Expressing concern over the current scenario, he emphasized the need for a legislation preventing their return to school, aiming to encourage greater caution and responsibility among the youth.

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Lusaka underscored the shift in societal norms, observing an increasing trend where pregnant girls are permitted to rejoin educational institutions without significant consequences.

He highlighted the absence of such leniency in the past and advocated for a strict policy disallowing pregnant schoolgirls from continuing their education, serving as a deterrent to potential offenders.

Citing the alarming situation at St Aquinas Chesikaki Secondary School in Mt Elgon, where 54 girls were found to be pregnant, the governor conveyed his disapproval.

Instead of relying on direct quotes, he asserted that legislation should hold accountable men responsible for impregnating schoolgirls, emphasizing the existence of adequate legal frameworks governing such offenses.

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Attributing the high incidence of teenage pregnancies in the region to elevated poverty levels, Lusaka drew attention to the prevalence of incest cases in Mt Elgon, primarily due to cramped living conditions.

He disclosed distressing information gathered from forums at St Aquinas, where girls shared stories revealing poverty and lack of access to sanitary pads as contributing factors to teen pregnancy.

In response to the escalating issue of teenage pregnancies in Bungoma, the governor acknowledged the intervention of organizations such as UN Women and Nancy Barasa’s foundation.

Collaborative efforts with Forum for African Women Educationalists, Maendeleo ya Wanawake, and RMNCAH Network have been initiated to distribute sanitary pads to affected girls across different wards.

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Lusaka declared his commitment to addressing teenage pregnancy issues, outlining plans for a stakeholders’ meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

This forum will engage Members of Parliament, Members of County Assemblies, education stakeholders, and Civil Society Organizations to deliberate on challenges within the education sector and strategize for a comprehensive solution.

He concluded by expressing optimism that, by June, Bungoma would witness a significant transformation as a result of collective efforts to combat teenage pregnancy, with the active involvement of various stakeholders.

Ban Pregnant Teens from Resuming School, Governor Lusaka Proposes

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