The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Otuke, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Otuke district authorities have resolved that all teenage mothers report back to school after giving birth. The resolution follows a report by Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), a Non-governmental organization working in the district, which shows that 1,363 teenagers got pregnant between January to July 2021.
The district leadership argue that schools in the district will be useless if there are no children, adding that getting pregnant while at school should be treated as a one-time accident. Alfred Malinga, the Otuke Chief Administrative Officer (C.A.O) explained that they are collecting the exact data on teenage pregnancies and Gender-Based Violence to find where and how these children can be helped to return to school.
He however blamed the parents for abandoning their responsibility of grooming the children.
Susan Abeja, the Otuke District Woman MP believes that the girls should be given a chance to continue studying even after giving birth. She says as leaders, they will make sure that the girls receive the necessary support they require at school.
John Chrysostom Muyingo, the State Minister for Higher Education warned the stakeholders against abusing the opportunity of allowing pregnant girls from accessing education after giving birth.
Elizabeth Atyang, a 16-year-old girl who got pregnant before the release of her 2020 PLE results describes her pregnancy as a “big mistake,” saying that when given the opportunity, she would like to continue with her studies.
“I slept with him only once and I did not even think that I would get pregnant and now I’m here like this. I really want to study and become a nurse in future so if they can allow me, I will take that chance.”
Last year, the Ministry of Education came up with a policy, which allows girls who conceived while still at school to return to school six months after giving birth.
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