Pregnant learners and adolescent mothers should be supported to continue their education instead of being stigmatized and forced out of school, education leaders in Apac Municipality have said, warning that discrimination is driving many girls into permanent school dropout and poverty.
The appeal comes amid growing concern over high adolescent pregnancy rates in Apac District, where health officials estimate that 28 percent of girls aged 15–19 have begun childbearing, higher than Uganda’s national average of about 25 percent. Health experts warn that adolescent pregnancies contribute to school dropouts, child marriages, maternal health complications and long-term poverty among young women.
Despite a government policy allowing adolescent mothers to return to school after childbirth, education leaders say many girls never make it back because they face rejection from their families, communities and, in some cases, schools. Martin Elok, the Head Teacher of Arocha Seed Secondary School, said the school recorded four girls who dropped out due to pregnancy during the previous academic year.
He said the school has since worked closely with parents to ensure the girls are given an opportunity to return to class after childbirth. Elok noted that mentorship programmes involving successful career women are helping to motivate girls, build their self-esteem and encourage them to remain focused on their education despite the challenges they face.
He added that schools alone cannot address the challenge, stressing that parents must provide emotional support, childcare where possible, and encouragement to enable young mothers to complete their education. Christine Adongo, the Head Teacher of St. Francisca Girls Secondary School, said schools should adopt a supportive rather than punitive approach by allowing pregnant learners adequate time to recover after delivery before returning to class.She said such interventions would significantly reduce the number of girls permanently dropping out of school.
Adongo also urged parents across Lango and the rest of the country to prioritise girls’ education and enrol their daughters in schools that offer guidance, counselling and protection rather than discrimination.
She observed that many girls who return to school after childbirth often perform well academically when given the necessary psychosocial support and a conducive learning environment. Paul Oculi, a teacher at St. Francisca Girls Secondary School, blamed negative societal attitudes for worsening the problem, saying many parents regard pregnancy as a source of shame and withdraw support from their daughters at the time they need it most.He called for a change in community attitudes to ensure adolescent mothers are accepted, counselled and encouraged to rebuild their lives through education.
The educators further appealed to local leaders, religious institutions and civil society organisations to strengthen sexuality education, mentorship programmes and parental engagement to help prevent teenage pregnancies while ensuring girls who become pregnant are not denied their constitutional right to education. Uganda’s education policy allows learners who become pregnant to return to school after giving birth, and the Ministry of Education and Sports has repeatedly urged schools to eliminate discrimination against adolescent mothers.Education advocates say effective implementation of the policy will require stronger collaboration among schools, families, health workers and local leaders. They argue that keeping adolescent mothers in school not only improves their future economic opportunities but also helps break the cycle of poverty, early marriage and repeat teenage pregnancies, leading to better outcomes for families and communities-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
