By Staff Reporter
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has raised concern over 11 girls from Angwa Secondary School in Mbire District who were forced to drop out of school after falling pregnant.
In a statement Monday, ARTUZ said this was unfair and goes against the law which allows pregnant girls to have access to education.
“ARTUZ is sounding the alarm on a grave injustice taking place in rural communities and beyond. Over the past year, an alarming 11 girls from Angwa Secondary School in Mbire District have been forced to drop out of school due to pregnancy.
“This goes against the Education Act amendment (Section 68C), which ensures that pregnant students and adolescent mothers go to education without facing exclusion due to fees or pregnancy,” ARTUZ said in a statement.
The teachers union also said societal stereotypes have persistently obstructed the effective implementation of this policy.
“ARTUZ observes that negative attitudes and stereotypes continue to hinder the successful implementation of this policy. It is crucial to promote inclusive access to education and reproductive justice by fully including pregnant learners in the education system.
The education-rights advocate also blamed poverty for adolescent pregnancy and called on authorities to provide free education for all children.
“The root cause of this travesty is clear – poverty is driving girls into the horrors of child marriage. Families struggling to survive the worsening El nino induced drought are making the unthinkable choice to sacrifice the futures of their young girls.
“This violates their basic human rights, and ARTUZ will not stand idly by. In light of the above, ARTUZ is calling on the government for a moratorium on all fees in the education sector, removing the financial barriers that keep children, especially girls, out of the classroom.
