GES urges pregnant SHS students to report back school

The Ghana Education Service, (GES), has urged pregnant teenagers in Senior High Schools not cut short their academic journey by dropping out of school

According to GES, pregnant teenagers can stay in school as long as they are healthy enough to learn with their colleagues.

The Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer for GES Mark Ofori  Amanfo in an interview on OTEC the Kumasi based OTEC 102.9 FM’s morning show Nyansapo on Friday March 31,2023, said no head teacher has the right to sack student for getting pregnant in school.

“In 2018, the Ghana Education Service, through the Girls Education Unit, developed a policy framework to help address the problem of pregnancy among school girls”.

The policy, among other things, is to ensure that girls who are pregnant get a second chance to continue their education during pregnancy and after childbirth.

Mr Amanfo was reacting to report from St Mary’s Girls SHS at Konongo which indicates some 15 students reported to school with pregnancies.

The Headmistress of the school, Madam Alice Martha Adjei revealed that the recent report indicates about a total of 15 students are pregnant with 4 being final year students, 10 form two students and one newly admitted student confirmed pregnant for the 2023 academic year with pregnancy

While expressing worry over the situation Mr Amanfo called on parents and guardians to support teachers in finding solutions to the problem of teenage pregnancy among school children.

“Pregnancy among schoolgirls is a global concern, and it is one of the gender-related barriers that prevent girls from completing their education. While pregnancy affects schoolgirls in different ways, the main difficulty is their inability to continue schooling during pregnancy and after childbirth and that’s why GES has developed a framework for students to return to school after giving birth. “

The government has made it a policy that since they have become pregnant, they need to come back. They go and give birth, then come back. So we calm them down, and we monitor them. I monitor their antenatal care and their food. Sometimes, I do give them food if the need be, we give them money if the need be; and then the parents also come in, and when it is almost time for the child or the girl to give birth, we allow the girl to go home, give birth, and, in 3 months’ time, the girl comes back to school.

Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Jacob Agyenim Boateng