FAWE calls for re-entry for young mothers
Dec 14, 2003
THE Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) has called on governments to put in place a re-entry policy for teenage mothers who drop out of school due to pregnancy
By John Eremu
in Grand Baie, Mauritius
THE Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) has called on governments to put in place a re-entry policy for teenage mothers who drop out of school due to pregnancy.
Anne Therese Ndong Jatta, the chairperson of the advocacy group said such policies have had a great impact on girls’ education according to studies done in Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, Guinea and Namibia.
“In those countries the study has shown that given the opportunity, teen mothers return and stay in school,†Jatta told the sixth biennial meeting of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA).
“We wish to thank the governments that have taken a bold step to deal with this serious problem of teenage pregnancy. To the countries that do not yet have re-entry policies in place, we wish to give you assurance that such policies work and urge all to adopt it,†added Jatta who is also the Gambian state minister for education.
She disclosed that Uganda and Tanzania were in the process of instituting the policy while a few other countries practiced it informally.
The four-day conference on the theme: “The Quest for Quality,†has drawn together over 350 delegates including policy makers, academicians, donors and education ministers across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Although Sub-Saharan Africa had attained a 38% increase in girls’ enrolment over the past decade, Jatta said a recent study by (Unesco) shows that disparities against girls still existed.
in Grand Baie, Mauritius
THE Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) has called on governments to put in place a re-entry policy for teenage mothers who drop out of school due to pregnancy.
Anne Therese Ndong Jatta, the chairperson of the advocacy group said such policies have had a great impact on girls’ education according to studies done in Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, Guinea and Namibia.
“In those countries the study has shown that given the opportunity, teen mothers return and stay in school,†Jatta told the sixth biennial meeting of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA).
“We wish to thank the governments that have taken a bold step to deal with this serious problem of teenage pregnancy. To the countries that do not yet have re-entry policies in place, we wish to give you assurance that such policies work and urge all to adopt it,†added Jatta who is also the Gambian state minister for education.
She disclosed that Uganda and Tanzania were in the process of instituting the policy while a few other countries practiced it informally.
The four-day conference on the theme: “The Quest for Quality,†has drawn together over 350 delegates including policy makers, academicians, donors and education ministers across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Although Sub-Saharan Africa had attained a 38% increase in girls’ enrolment over the past decade, Jatta said a recent study by (Unesco) shows that disparities against girls still existed.