Malawi: School Authorities at Matiti Primary School in Zomba Urban are concerned to see the increasing numbers of teenage pregnancies in the district. The members of the school administration can not pinpoint the exact reason for the rise in teen mothers.
However, they have expressed concern that the situation is not ideal for the girl students. The teenagers who fall pregnant in their teen years often have to drop out of school for their pregnancy and childbirth. Oftentimes, the children can not rejoin the schools due to the responsibility of taking care of their children.
The school registered nine pregnancies in the first five months of the year. The school administration believes that it has sent wrong signal to the development of education among girl child.
Matiti School, Deputy Head Teacher, Yahaya Samson said the school was surprised to register nine pregnancies. These pregnancies were registered among standard seven learners.
As a result, four girls have been taken out of school as they have been married off as teenage brides.
“The pregnancies are going at a worrisome rate. We are talking of nine pregnancies this year alone which was not the case last year with four cases recorded,” he said.
Deputy Head Teacher Samson added that Matiti School was leading in Songani Education Zone. With this he put the blame on parents, saying learners go wayward at home after classes.
A parent of a standard seven learners, Faith Katoma accused teachers of complacency in handling the learners on the human and academic aspect. She accused teachers of focusing on academics only and completely turning blind eye to the social being of pupils.
Parents Teachers Association (PTA) Chairperson, Clement Manyamba acknowledged the challenge, adding that poor supervision of wards was the major contributing factor to the current state of affairs.
“Learners seem to be on free range system both at home. Parents are more occupied in personal matters than education of their kids but I can assure you, change is inevitable,” he added.
Matiti Primary School has an enrollment of 2,940 learners comprising of 1,457 boys and 1,483 girls with teacher learner ratio of 1:46.
Chief Education Officer at Education Office in Zomba, Medson Mbilizi admitted that pregnancy rate at Matiti Primary School was worrisome and said the situation need some collective intervention.
He said his office was putting everything in order to tame the situation before it comes a crisis.
Songani Zone comprises 12 primary schools including Matiti, Mwanje, Namitonso Chikupira, Mpungulira, Songani, Naming’azi, Mtondo among others.