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Pregnant girls to be allowed back to school after birth in Tanzania

On Wednesday, Tanzania lifted a ban on pregnant students and teenage mothers continuing with their studies that had been in place for 19 years. ย 

Speaking in Dodoma, Tanzaniaโ€™s Education Minister Prof Joyce Ndalichako said the government will allow all students who dropped out of school due to pregnancy related issues and other reasons to resume classes.

The Ministry further assured that the affected students could resume school within a two-year period. If a teen mother doesnโ€™t apply in time, they can enroll at a paid-for education centre majorly supported by the World Bank.

Initially, the government had set up a parallel education system for pregnant girls to protect other students from โ€˜bad influence.โ€™

The law initially passed in 2002 and was reinforced by the late President John Magufuli in 2017, allowing expulsion of pregnant girls from school even after giving birth.

Both human rights activists and international bodies slammed the government on its move to deprive girls of their right to basic education. In 2017, the World Bank froze a $300m loan for girlโ€™s education protesting against the ban while Sweden in 2020 cut its funding stating girlsโ€™ education was more important for the success of the country.

After the new announcement, in a statement, the World Bank said it โ€˜welcomes the removal of barriersโ€™ and the renewed support for girls and young women.

Due to the law, public schools across mainland Tanzania conducted compulsory pregnancy tests on female students and expelled those who were positive.

Tanzania has a high adolescent birth rate. According to Guttmacher Institute data, 22% of women ages 20 to 24 give birth before the age of 18. It is estimated that 57% of girls from age 15 to 19 are not using modern contraception.

Human Rights Watch says that a lack of comprehensive sexual education leaves many girls with a poor knowledge of reproductive health. Schools – majorly in informal settlements and rural areas – do little to raise awareness of early pregnancy and do not provide access to modern contraceptives.

This move could help improve things, however โ€“ we will have to wait and see.

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