PLE candidate delivers baby hours before sitting mathematics paper

 ________________ 

A Primary Seven candidate at Kyambura Primary School in Kichwamba subcounty, Rubirizi district, gave birth to a baby girl on Tuesday morning, just hours before sitting her Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).

The pupil reportedly delivered at around 2:00 am at Kichwamba Health Centre III before returning to school later that morning to sit her exams.

Despite the unexpected turn of events, the candidate managed to return to school and sit her first two PLE papers, while her grandmother and health workers took care of her newborn daughter.

The school's headteacher, Hope Nsimenta, confirmed the development, saying the pupil had continued attending classes despite her pregnancy and that the school had handled her carefully to ensure she remained in school.

Stella Nakacwa, the in-charge of Kichwamba Health Centre III, said the pupil arrived at the facility at around 1:00 am, accompanied by her grandmother.

She said health workers immediately attended to her and monitored her condition until she delivered a baby girl.

"She came with her grandmother during the night. We received them and started monitoring her until she gave birth to a bouncing baby girl. Fortunately, she did not experience any complications during delivery," Nakacwa said.

Nakacwa added that health workers did everything possible to ensure the mother delivered safely and was in a stable condition to sit her examinations later in the morning.

She said the health facility worked with the relevant authorities to ensure the candidate was able to return to school and sit her papers.

Nakacwa said that after the delivery, she contacted her supervisor, the district health officer (DHO), who informed education officials about the incident.

She said health and education officials agreed that the candidate should be given an opportunity to sit her examinations, especially after confirming that she was willing and ready to proceed.

"When I received the girl, I called my supervisor, the DHO, who informed the district education officials. We discussed the matter and agreed that she should be allowed to sit her PLE because we asked her whether she was ready, and she also expressed her willingness to write the examinations," Nakacwa said.

The candidate was reportedly taken back to school at around 8:00 am with the assistance of health workers, where she managed to sit both Mathematics and Social Studies and Religious Education papers.

Nsimenta said the pupil had been studying at the school throughout her pregnancy and that the administration had made efforts to ensure she did not drop out.

She explained that when the pupil became pregnant, she initially attempted to leave school, but the headteacher intervened after meeting her grandmother.

"She was staying with her grandmother. When she became pregnant, she tried to leave school, but I met her grandmother and encouraged her to allow the girl to continue studying because she had already registered for her examinations," Nsimenta said.

The headteacher said the school continued supporting the candidate to ensure she completed her primary education despite the challenges associated with her pregnancy.

Candidate speaks out

The pupil told New Vision that she became pregnant while in Primary Seven.

She said the boy who impregnated her had promised to marry her but encouraged her to remain in school and continue with her education.

The two-day examinations ​end today, Wednesday, with candidates expected to sit Science and English