The Toyoma County government has entered into a partnership to ensure more than 12,000 teenage mothers return to school.
The agreement will bring together the African Forum of Women Educators (FAWE), the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and other organizations.
FAWE is an international organization that advocates for the reinstatement of girls who have dropped out of school.
Mirsan Kiprai, the county's Youth Reproductive Health, Gender-Based Violence and Early Childhood Development Coordinator, spoke to the media after a stakeholder consultation meeting on Monday and said the county values the contributions of girls.
Kipley added that's why the county is working with other stakeholders to ensure teen mothers can return to class.
“We want to ensure that they are able to achieve the dreams that they each set. One of the ways to make dreams come true is through proper education that helps them make choices in terms of what they want to do in the future. “It's about receiving,” she said.
She highlighted that Bungo City has recently been negatively featured as one of the counties with the highest rate of teenage pregnancy.
She assured that selected stakeholders from various sectors were meeting to discuss how girls could return to school.
“While we are debating how to get girls back to school, our main challenge remains preventing teenage pregnancy. Because it’s going to keep going,” Kipley added.
Kipley also reported that the county has introduced partners to allow girls who are unable to return to school to participate in TVET or provide funding to engage in income-generating activities.
“We want a community where girls are visible. They are empowered and can make decisions about their lives,” she said.
The district coordinator said that according to data from the Ministry of Health (MOH), there were more than 12,000 teenage pregnancies in Bungo City in the past five years, and in 2018, there were more than 22,000 pregnancy cases in Bungo City. Reported that it was recorded.
In 2023, experts found more than 12,000 cases of teen pregnancy in the county.
Bungoma District Education Director Pius Ngoma said the issue of teenage pregnancy has been a problem in the region for a long time and assured that coming together of stakeholders would help avert the menace.
“Pregnancy should not be considered an impurity for our daughters. After the victim gives birth, there is a readmission policy in which all pregnant girls are allowed to return to school peacefully.” said the director.
Regarding the government's move to extend the start of the second term, Mr Ngoma said the ministry was hopeful that the flooding problem plaguing the country would subside and learners could return to school.
He pointed out that heavy rains had blown off roofs and caused toilets to sink in some schools in Bungo City.
