40,000 Zimbabwean teachers trained to combat early marriage, teen pregnancies

Over 40,000 teachers across the country have been trained to tackle the growing issue of early marriage and teenage pregnancies in schools, following revelations that 3,368 learners dropped out due to pregnancy in 2024 out of a total of 33,764 learners who left school for various reasons.

The training program involved not only general teachers but also specialists, with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education reporting the development of a life skills handbook designed to equip young people with the tools to avoid early marriages.

During a session in the National Assembly last Wednesday, Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Angeline Gata outlined several measures the Ministry is implementing to address this worrying trend. She highlighted that approximately 40,000 teachers, including specialists, have undergone training focused on combating early marriages and teenage pregnancies within schools. The Ministry has also conducted integrated community service fairs through outreach programs and is training Child Protection Committees in schools to raise awareness and encourage reporting.

Deputy Minister Gata noted that these efforts have contributed to an increase in reporting cases of early pregnancy and early marriage. Schools and communities are now better equipped to support affected learners and reduce stigma. Group sessions are being held with pupils to provide support for girls who have dropped out of school due to pregnancy.

In addition to training, the Ministry has distributed Bluetooth speakers to schools to play recorded radio lessons on guidance and counselling. There are also radio discussions on eleven stations addressing teenage pregnancies and early marriages. The Ministry issued Secretary's Circular Number 18 of 28, which encourages continued education for affected learners. Peer educators are active in schools to address these issues, and a toll-free number, 317, has been established for reporting stigma-related cases affecting teen mothers. A chat board has also been created to allow children to discuss topics related to violence, teenage pregnancies, and early marriages.

Significantly, the Ministry has intensified efforts to readmit girls who have fallen pregnant or married early, reversing past practices where pregnant learners were expelled while male counterparts responsible for pregnancies continued schooling.

Deputy Minister Gata shared detailed statistics, revealing that Mashonaland East province recorded the highest number of dropouts due to pregnancy. Bulawayo Province had 45 secondary and 2 primary school dropouts; Harare Province reported 157 secondary and 3 primary school dropouts; Manicaland recorded 454 secondary and 15 primary school dropouts. Mashonaland Central had 454 secondary and 16 primary school dropouts, while Mashonaland East had 499 secondary and 10 primary school dropouts. Mashonaland West saw 459 secondary and 18 primary school dropouts. Masvingo reported 390 secondary school dropouts. Matabeleland North had 297 secondary and 6 primary school dropouts, Matabeleland South had 245 secondary and 2 primary school dropouts, and Midlands Province recorded 302 secondary school dropouts. In total, 109 girls dropped out of primary school due to pregnancy, and 3,324 girls dropped out of secondary school.

In 2023, over 4,000 learners dropped out due to pregnancy, with rural areas bearing the brunt of this crisis, underscoring the urgent need for ongoing interventions to keep girls in school and protect their futures.