Observer Reporter
In a sad development, 41 teenage girls from Kwekwe District dropped out of school since the beginning of the year after either falling pregnant or getting married, a government official has said.
Speaking at a Kwekwe District Child Protection Unit meeting recently Kwekwe District Remedial Tutor under the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Addmore Shava, said 30 girls were forced out of school after they fell pregnant while 11 went on to stay with their perpetrators under a “marriage” set-up.
“Most of these cases occurred in rural areas and among those who were impregnated is a primary school pupil. Some of the impregnated girls were brought back to school while some chose to get married,” he said.
He said under the “Catch-Up Strategy” of returning drop-outs to class, they have managed to bring back 237 pupils across the district.
“The drive is working out well as we have managed to bring some learners to class. We have also assisted 11 children living with disability to enroll in special schools. We have rolled out several projects including the pad-making projects, which also includes the boy child so that we keep them busy,” he said.
