The government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Education have banned pregnant girls and new mothers from writing exams and attending classes since 2014. This policy has caught the attention of international human rights organizations and local civil society groups. As a stop-gap measure, the Ministry of Education, funded by DfID, Irish Aid and UNICEF, a “bridge” program was instituted as schools were reopened after the Ebola crisis.
One year on, Amnesty International Sierra Leone, re-issued their strong opposition to this policy. Human rights groups, both internationally and locally, called for a lift of the ban. They argue that the rights of girls were being violated and the ban is in contravention of the Constitution of Sierra Leone.
Awoko’s Edna Smalle captured your views on Thursday…
Emmanuel
Well, in a good society, when we say school children, they are children. They should focus on their education not men. So it will not tell well for a pregnant girl to go to school because that will wrongly influence those who are not yet pregnant. I want us to cancel the statement about human rights in this matter. They don’t use this word at the right place; when parents send their children to school, they are providing their right to education. We should show good examples to our people. And, those who rape children should face the law.
Usifu
I am happy about this call for pregnant girls to be allowed in school. When a pregnant girl is asked to stay at home, she will lose the trend she has been going with her colleagues. When it is time for her to deliver she can still deliver her baby and then continue in school. So that she will not become a dropout. Everyone makes mistakes in life. That does not mean they should not get a second chance. Pregnancy should not be the end of their destiny. They will get counselling in schools from their teachers.
Ibrahim
What normally disturbs me about these INGO’s is that all they seek is to promote the interest of their parent organisation and donors. They ignore the customs of this nation. They should try to do things according to the customs of the society. Our society will never accept someone who is pregnant to attend school with others who are not. Every pregnant girl should stay at home; nurse her pregnancy and her baby before she can be enrolled back in school. This is Sierra Leone, they should not politicise us. They should not bring such western culture to us. Government should however come hard on those who sexually abuse children. It is disadvantage to the children so government should take strong measures against them
Dennis
The child should definitely go to school but it should not be when she is pregnant. She should only be allowed to go to school after her delivery. Those who sexually abuse children should be arrested but the child should still wait at home until she delivers her baby before should be allowed in school. As a parent I will not be happy to see my child dropping out of school.
Nanta
There should be an alternative learning scheme for pregnant girls. By this they will not influence others. These girls are normally faced with stigma from their peers, which is a huge challenge as most of the time they themselves decide to stay at home. The children will also lack concentration because of the stigma.
Friday November 11, 2016
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