A Tanzanian schoolgirl, Esnath Gideon, has expressed happiness that she has been allowed to come to school with her four-month-old baby after the Tanzanian government reversed a ban against pregnant school girls.
The 19-year-old schoolgirl told the BBC that she could not afford a caregiver, but the teachers had been gracious and accomodating of her baby.
Gideon, who is in form four, was happy to resume her studies and let the trauma of her pregnancy behind her. She also hoped to become a lawyer in the future.
Although, her grandmother whom she lived with was saddened by her pregnancy. She eventually became happy that it would not hinder her from pursuing her dream of becoming a lawyer.
The student was also glad that the current government reversed the law that kept pregnant schoolgirls and young mothers out of school.
“With the baby in class, my concentration is affected but I’m mostly able to listen. The challenge is when the baby needs a nappy change as there are no places in school where I can change the baby,” she said.
Tanzania’s former President, John Magufuli, had banned pregnant girls and young mothers from attending school in 2017.
The ban led to a lot of criticism and petition against the government by civil societies, especially the African Women’s Development and Communication Network
Due to the government policy, More than 1,500 pregnant girls were expelled from schools in the Mbeya district of the country.
According to Human Rights Watch, more than 55,000 pregnant teenage girls were expelled from school between 2003 to 2011.
When President Samia Suluhu, the country’s first female President assumed office, she reversed the ban in November 2021.
So far, 240 pregnant school girls have returned to a special classroom and have been placed under a programme that would allow them to cover the syllabus in a shorter time.
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