An estimated number of 16,000 girls dropped out of school in 2014 on account of teenage pregnancies and adolescent marriages.

BY SYLVIA MWEETWA –

ENGAGING in sexual acts among school girls not only in Kabwe’s Central Province but the country as a whole is becoming a common phenomena resulting in early pregnancies which the Government is grappling with in the educational sector.
But when asked if it was right for school girls to involve themselves in such acts instead of concentrating on  their education, one affected  girl responded by saying that practice “makes perfect” before bursting into laughter.
Clearly, the topic of school girls and early pregnancies requires  serious attention not only by the Government  but relevant Non Governmental Organisation (NGO)s who are better placed to finding a lasting solution to the scourge.
But who is to blame for the increased reports of pregnancies in schools? Is it the sugar daddy syndrome or peer pressure among others?
For some pupils the pregnancies are as a result of peer pressure while others feel that it is a hobby as per confession from one of the affected girls.
The continued reports of school girls getting pregnant early has continued to prove a huge challenge in the nation such as Zambia with some members of the public demanding that those who fall pregnant should not be allowed back into school as that would encourage others to engage in unprotected  sex.
Susan Mulenga (not real name) claimed that she got pregnant by accident and did not plan to be in the motherly way because her priority was to acquire education first but said her condition has now cast a dark cloud on her future.
As tears rolled down her cheeks, she narrated how she had to sleep with different men to raise money for school requirements, being  an orphaned girl.
But she was quick to point out that she knows that society cannot understand her pain, shame and frustrations.
“If you ask me I don’t know who the father of my unborn child is, I wanted to abort  but  failed  because  I  was  scared that  I might die in case of a complication,” she said.
The only appeal to the parents or guardians is that those keeping girls should try to look after them well and  take care of their needs apart from just giving them house-household chores.
Another girl said that she slept  with  her fellow  pupil due to peer pressure.
The victim said that it was already too late to regret because she was now expecting a child.
In addition, her parents had refused to accept the boy as being responsible ,describing him as poor since he has nothing to offer in terms of parenting.
Other pregnant girls talked to said they were considering their involvement in sex as a hobby and that it was up to the government to seriously take up the issue  of early pregnancies seriously.
Mr Mulenga Mwape on another hand
blamed the increased cases of early pregnancies to the introduction of the re- entry policy and that the best the government can do was not to authorise the distribution of condoms in schools and health institutions where the condoms were distributed without demanding an explanation from those obtaining them.
“We have a situation where even school girls and boys can ask
for condoms from a pharmacist over the counter without any explanation to those serving them as to why they were getting them and for whose use,” he said.
About 38 pupils at Mukobeko Secondary school in Kabwe District are currently on maternity leave while nine are pregnant.
Mukobeko secondary School Manager Mutale Mwamba disclosed that last year the institution recorded 52 pregnancies of which 38 were still on maternity leave.
Mr Mwamba said the number of pregnancies at the school were alarming and attributed this to the fact that most pupils come from far flung areas and their parents rent houses for them.
“Last year the school recorded 52 pregnancies of which 38 are still on maternity leave,” Mr Mwamba said.
He said this when Education Deputy Minister Sydney Mushanga paid a courtesy call on him in the company of the Ministry Director of Human Resource Binwell Mwansa and Kabwe District Education Secretary(DEBS)Sunday Mwape.
The Ministry of Education Director of Human Resource Mr Mwansa has bemoaned the high numbers of teenage pregnancies which have been recorded at the school adding that it is sad that the girl child has continued to be defiled.
“I am saddened to learn that pupils are leaving school due to falling pregnant,’’Mr Mwansa said.
The Minister has since called on the school authorities to partner with organisations that promote behavioural change to intervene in the matter.
Mr Mushanga urged teachers at the school to take an interest in the welfare of the pupils as they stay alone without parental guidance.
An estimated number of 16,000 girls dropped out of school in 2014 on account of teenage pregnancies and adolescent marriages.
Education Minister Michael Kaingu says 13,200 cases were recorded at primary school level and the rest at secondary school level.
Dr Kaingu said the development was more prevalent in rural areas.
The minister said this recently when he featured on the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC)’s Sunday Interview programme and that the scourge had worsened due to high poverty levels, especially among the girl-children who were vulnerable with no brighter future.
“This is something that is of grave concern because it is defeating the whole purpose of educating the girl-child.It calls for urgent collaboration to arrest the situation and Government efforts in this regard must be supplemented by the private sector,” he said.
Last year 30 pupils at Kaoma High School in Western Province were sent away on maternity leave after falling pregnant in the first term.
The School Head teacher Jonathan Mukenge said ten pupils who had come from basic schools had proceeded on maternity leave when they were barely in grade ten, an indication that they were pregnant even before joining Kaoma High School.
The nation has however, continued recording alarming cases of early pregnancies and that it was a puzzle and mystery which  needed quick response.