Author: MEDDY MULISA
AfricaPress-Tanzania: THE police in Kagera Region are investigating the death of a Standard Six pupil from Kambarage Primary School in Karagwe District, who has allegedly hanged herself.
Speaking on the death, Kagera Regional Police Commander (RPC) Revocatus Malimi said it occurred at Kayanga Village on Wednesday.
“The incident was reported by her father Gaspar Kamugisha. However, the cause of the girl to commit suicide has not been established as investigations are still underway. However, reports show that there is an increase in the number of pregnant schoolgirls and this could be the cause of the alleged suicide,” he said.
At least 67 girl students were impregnated in Biharamulo and Ngara districts during the Covid-19 pandemic, which has alarmed Kagera leaders.
Biharamulo District Education Officer (Academic) Boaz Kamugisha said at least 32 girl students in secondary schools (one from Form Five and another from Form Six) were impregnated and had been expelled from school.
“This is a big problem. We have never witnessed such a big number of girl students becoming pregnant in a short time,” he said.
Ngara District Education Officer (Academic) Enock Ntakiligaye said 35 schoolgirls in both primary and secondary schools in the district had been impregnated.
Out of the total number, seven of them were primary school pupils and 28 were secondary school students. He said the government would take legal action against schoolgirl pregnancy and take stern measures against the culprits.
He also appealed to Ngara residents to fight against outdated laws, customs and practices that kept millions of women backyard and violated most of their constitutional rights.
Increased access to secondary education (especially girl education) contributes to economic growth, poverty reduction, low fertility rates and better child health.
Women who complete their secondary education start childbearing later and have fewer and healthier children.
Encouraging girls to stay in school longer and ensure they get good education is one of the most effective ways of reducing early marriage and pregnancy.
Pregnancy rates in young women with no education are 52 per cent compared to only 10 per cent of young women with secondary or higher education.
An improved education sector can increase education access, ensure that schools are safe with less risk of gender-based violence and raise the quality of secondary education.
Of the 60,000 students who drop out of secondary school every year in Tanzania, 5,500 leave due to pregnancy.
While there is no government policy that states that students who become pregnant must be expelled from public schools, most pregnant girls drop out.
