Africa-Press – Mozambique. As a way to fight school dropouts, some schools in Maputo already allow pregnant students and teenage mothers to attend day-time courses, in contradiction of an order revoked two years ago, which stipulated that every pregnant student should be transferred to the evening course.
In 2003, the government passed a law transferring pregnant students to evening courses, but the measure failed to fulfil its objective of guaranteeing that these students stayed in school. It was therefore revoked two years ago, so the presence of pregnant students in the day course is already allowed.
Jessica, the fictitious name of a 16-year-old Grade 10 student, says that her biggest dream is to finish high school, and that’s what motivates her to go to school despite being pregnant.
“The school didn’t reject me… I’ve met several people who are surprised that I continue to study despite the state I’m in,” says Jessica.
Angelica Mucavel also had the same fate. Already a mother at the age of 15, the support of her teachers and parents was essential for her to continue her studies.
“I got pregnant when I was 13 years old, when in Grade 8. My parents have been helping me. When I go to school, they take care of the baby,” she says, adding: “If I had my time again, I wouldn’t make the same mistake.”
The process of reintegrating pregnant students and teenage mothers is a problem not only for the school, but also for the family. Teacher Leopoldina Mazive says that family support plays a fundamental role at this stage and adds that, despite any girl being pregnant, she is still a child.
Angelica’s father has stood by side ever since pregnancy, saying that her making a mistake was no reason to treat her as anything but a daughter.
“We found out about the pregnancy when she was already five months gone. It was a big disappointment. I had no choice but to take on all the expense. She made a mistake, but she didn’t stop being my daughter, that’s why I accepted my granddaughter with all affection,” Nelson Mucavel says.
The Education for All Movement (MEPT) recognises that there are still challenges for the reintegration of pregnant students and teenage mothers into classes. One of them is the dissemination of the new decree, because some schools at the district level, including some school directors and the areas of gender focal points, are still not aware of the new decree.
In addition to this challenge, MEPT executive secretary Isabel Langa says that, despite the order having been revoked, there is still no clear strategy with specific advice on how the reintegration might be achieved.
“To ensure that the period in which the girl is absent does not miss the subjects, it is necessary that follow-up is carried out,” she observes.
To discourage more girls from becoming pregnant, schools have strengthened gender focal point areas, and some teachers have been training students with lectures and awareness-raising in the area of sexual and reproductive health.
By
Eunicia Chamango
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