Dangers of locking out pregnant girls from schools: Imagine a dog rescuing

an abandoned baby of a child mother in a bush.

Most back-to-school news has focused on a speech by Bishop James Ssebagala of
Mukono Diocese who directed teachers in Church of Uganda-founded schools to block
pregnant or breastfeeding students despite a government directive that makes it
illegal.

Limiting access to education for child mothers and pregnant girls has negative effects
for any country, family, climate, society, and human resource. We can’t solve a
national problem when everyone is operating in silos. A 2020 Sauti Za Wanainchi
survey found that nearly 80% of Ugandans are worried about the rate of teenage
pregnancy as the country battles the coronavirus pandemic. We must have a universal
position and approach. Why are other stakeholders having problems following
Ministry of education guidelines?
 
Before COVID-19, there were local NGOs running Vocational training programmes for
child mothers and pregnant teens. How did they design their classes to be young
motherhood-friendly? Can formal schools benchmark? The argument that schools are
unprepared logistically does not hold water at all. I don’t think any school can fail to
develop local solutions to address the challenges of educating child mothers and
pregnant teens. A senior woman teacher is another resource to use. Even cravings for
the girls can be managed like any other menu at school. Pregnant teens can still carry
flasks, and schools provide porridge. If inadequate funds is the issue, schools can look
at partnerships with corporate institutions for feeding programmes.

Keep child mothers and pregnant teens in school to avoid increased cases of
abandoned babies, child prostitution, street children, and unsafe abortions. Some,
especially those who conceived as a result of sexual abuse, may start looking at their
babies as burdens to achieving their career dreams. Not every frustrated child who
wants to go back to school will look for a foster   home. If she   abandons the baby in
the bush and a dog rescues it, baby may not make it. Evidence shows baby homes
receive babies from mainly teen mothers. Do you want to wake up to increased cases
of babies dumped on the streets?
 
Children are safer at school. National statistics from the Ministry of Education have
shown 30% increase in pregnancies among school girls during COVID.  We don’t need
a child abuse pandemic that can be a result of blocking pregnant girls and child mothers
from accessing certain schools. If they have to wait till their child grows, or they give
birth, parents may resort to forced child marriages to even get rich..
Increased mental health issues for child mothers. Pregnancy exposes young girls to
adverse depression and anxiety. These girls have been already rejected and
discriminated against in the community. Schools are in the best possible position to help
them access frequent psycho-social support. Studies have shown that some subjects
like music and art can be therapy to these child mothers and pregnant mothers. The
worldwide prevalence of depression during pregnancy is estimated to be between 11
and 18%. BMC Psychiatry (May 2018)

We will face diverse climate change effects if more girls are locked out of school. Girl
education is linked to fighting climate change. Closing gender gaps in education helps
countries take more resilient climate change action through empowering them with
reproductive health, human rights, and leadership knowledge in school. Malala Fund
2021 report estimates that in 2025, climate change will be a contributing factor in
preventing at least 12.5 million girls from completing their education each year. The
report asks leaders to keep girls in school to strengthen climate action strategies.

Child mothers and pregnant girls are our hope for the economy. If we don’t empower
them with education and skills early, we will have a less productive generation that will
result in slow economic growth. A 2018 World Bank report found that limited
educational opportunities for girls and barriers to completing 12 years of education are
costing countries between US$15 trillion and US$30 trillion in lost lifetime productivity
and earnings.

The narrative that child mothers may encourage peers at school to do the same is far-
fetched. Some of these girls are rape victims. Address sexual abuse. Even on religious
grounds, would Jesus Christ or Prophet Hosea have the same stand that some girls
should be written off current education opportunities?  All children need second
chances for education because they have dreams in life even before they make
mistakes. God asks us not asked us not to judge his people but love them
unconditionally.

 
Ivan N Baliboola
PR and Organizational Diagnosis specialist
nbaliboola@gmail.com