Tanzania’s President John Magufuli said on Thursday that schoolgirls who get impregnated will not be allowed back to school.
The concept behind the administration’s ruling was the concern that if such pregnant girls were allowed back to school, then “they would encourage other girls to engage in sex”.
President Magufuli was addressing Bagamoyo District residents during his three-day-tour of Coast Region.
During his speech he also accused some NGOs, which have been urging the Tanzanian government to allow teen mothers back to school, of being used by foreign agents.
“There are many things that girls, who are impregnated can do after delivery; they can join VETA (Vocational Education Training Authority centres), they can learn sewing but they can’t go back to school,” said the President.
“If we were to allow them back to school, one day we will find all girls who are in Standard One have babies,” said President Magufuli.
As of recent, pressure for the government to allow teen mothers back to school has been mounting.
NGOs who have been fighting for girls’ rights to education have been urging the government to formulate a legal framework that would allow teenage mothers to resume their studies after giving birth.
Addressing a press conference, HakiElimu executive director John Kalage noted that early pregnancy as result of underage sex was among the factors that made schoolgirls fail to finish their studies.
The Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRAGG) and the Social Service and Community Development Parliamentary Committee as well as the opposition camp in Parliament also joined the fray to allow teen mothers back to school.
