15-year-old Maria* had been having relations with a 15-year-old Andrew for few months now, they had unprotected sex just one time and got pregnant. Based on the re-entry guidelines she is now back in school. Maria is now visibly pregnant walking along the corridors of a rural secondary school amidst social distancing and wearing masks rules in this pandemic era, which is still here with us in 2021. As she walks to class her classmates, peers and teachers can visibly see that she is pregnant. The confirmation of engaging in sex is evident. Will Maria achieve her dreams in life, Will her friends look at her the same, do they know what really happened, is she the same person, has she shamed the school and society at large. Tongues about her will be wagging calling her names and not allowing her to be the child she is. All of a sudden she will be promoted to a mother status, not allowed to play. Peers will talk about her pointing fingers, teachers will use her as an example to hinder *bad* behavior as they call it and community at large will talk about her and add her into the statistics of many other girls carrying children. She will be excluded and all alone. Just like Maria this will be the experience of thousands of girls who got pregnant in 2020 will experience stigma and discrimination, when they go back to school. How will they go back to school when the whole community is against them and have been forced to grow up so fast? How can we all ensure that the stigma and discrimination does not hinder pregnant girls to continue with their studies?
According to the Kenya Health Information Systems data the reported numbers of teenage pregnancies in all counties for the period January-May 2020 are 151,433 compared to 175,488 for the same period in 2019. These girls have a right to stay in school without fear and discrimination from peers, teachers and society at large, this will only happen the National guidelines for school re-entry that were developed in 2020 are implementation fully.
These guidelines stipulates that “A learner who is pregnant shall be allowed to remain in school as long as possible in line with existing education policies in Kenya” among other measures. What the guidelines do not specifically mention is how to prepare other students, teachers classmates and peers in accepting the pregnant girl without discrimination, stigma and judgment.
Teachers should start the conversation about sex and pregnancy to all students in school. Emphasizing on the right to education irrespective of disability, pregnancy and sexual orientation. It is important that the focus for her should be getting education and not being left behind rather or even fighting stigma and discrimination. If we are to achieve sustainable development goal four on quality education girls especially pregnant girls should be allowed to stay in school without any discrimination so that they can actualize their dreams.
Unfiltered 