Samfya district education board secretary (DEBS) George Mwangula says the number of girls dropping out of school
due to pregnancies and early marriages is worrying.
Mr Mwangula said from January this year, 93 girls have dropped out of school at Lubwa Secondary School in Samfya, due to pregnancies and early marriages.
“We have a challenge here that needs urgent intervention. At grade one, we have 100 percent girls’ enrolment but by the
time they get to grade 12, only one or none writes the examination,” he said.
Mr Mwangula said the school authorities have tried to put in place measures to stop the scourge but to no avail.
“We suggest that boarding houses be built at all rural schools to stop girls from cohabiting with boys or villagers while at school,” he said.
Mr Mwangula was speaking when officials from the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication visited to check on the project to upgrade Lubwa into a secondary school.
And at Kasaba Secondary School, over 16 girls have dropped out of school this year due to pregnancies.
Parent Teacher Association (PTA) chairperson, Stebin Katebe said the number of early pregnancies has continued to rise because lots of girls were renting in informal boarding houses, therefore, some men take advantage of this.
“Here, the school is far so most girls resort to renting houses because there are no boarding houses nearby,” he said.
He called on school authorities to consider building boarding houses to safeguard the future of girls.- Zambia Daily-mail
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