Child Activists Criticize MOE
Child rights activists have declined a move by the Ministry of Education -MOE blocking pregnant girls from continuing with school.
MOE released a policy giving female learners only 3 months to attend class after they have been confirmed pregnant.
This means that after 3 months a student is sent away from school and only allowed to return for final examinations as a candidate.
Close to 200 of the finalists now sitting for their final examinations returned pregnant after COVID-19 protracted lockdown.
Child Activists Criticize MOE
However, child right activists have disagreed with this move,saying it is unfair and disadvantageous to the education of female students.
Under their different umbrella bodies, the activists argue that missing school on account of pregnancy denies a child equitable right to education and affects their Education and overall performance.
Among them, Annah Kukundakwe, a program officer at the Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) says that the policy denies a child the right to education.
”We all know that for some of these young people, it’s not a choice that they are having babies at this age, either they are raped or defiled or exploited. We as CSOs are concerned about the mandatory free maternity leave, asking someone to take leave and return for exams, for 1 to perform well they need to have participated in class. Kukundakwe says
However, Angella Nansubuga, the head of the gender unit at the Education Ministry says that the 3 months was given to discourage teenage pregnancies.
”While we want the learners to continue with school, the school environment is not meant for expectant mothers,” Nansubuga said.
