Education sector stakeholders are calling on both the national and county governments to come up with tenable solutions of ending unemployment and break the cycle of poverty in households which is a lead key promoter of early teenage pregnancies.
Led by Forum for African Women Educationalists Kenya (FAWEK), they also urged the national government to come up with better ways of packaging sex education in school curriculum in order to sensitize school going children on dangers of engaging in early sex which continues to be detrimental to their education.
Speaking at a workshop in the city under theme dubbed, ” Imaarisha Msichana ” which brought together County officials, National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) and Community Health Promoters (CHPs),FAWE Kiambu County Coordinator Pauline Masese decried high cases teenage pregnancies in Thika, Juja and Kebete subcounties.
Ms. Masese noted that for Kiambu county to record zero school teenage pregnancies, all stakeholders must be actively engaged and participate in playing arole.
“This topic should not be left with teachers alone, let parents, caregivers and guardians also look for creative ways of engaging young girls productively. Let them understand the child’s sexual behaviour and protect them,” she said.
She said with the support of Kiambu County government, the organization will trace underage girls who have dropped out of school due to early pregnancies with the aim of returning them to school.
She also asked heads of schools to allow teen mothers back to school without considering entry exams. “KEPSEA (Grade 6) is not an entry exam and should not hinder child’s progression to grade 7,” she said.
In March 2020, when Kenya was struck by the COVID-19 virus, FAWE, Kenya Chapter, started a programme dubbed Imarisha Msichana in 20 counties, Kiambu included, to see all girls receive quality education and put to an end to teen pregnancy. Through the programme, they have supported girls’ education and trained various stakeholders on how to engage, empower and accommodate girls for the betterment of the whole society.
