Zimbabwean president makes it illegal for schools to expel pregnant students

Zimbabwean president makes it illegal for schools to expel pregnant students.

The Zimbabwe president, Emmerson Mnangagwa administration has made it illegal for pregnant school students to be expelled from their various schools in a bid to tackle gender inequality in classrooms and also reduce the rate at which female students drop out of schools in the country.

A legal amendment that seeks to reinforce a 1999 guideline that was patchly implemented was announced by the Zimbabwean news media.

President Mnangagwa's administration made the decision over fears of uprising sexual abuse and unwanted pregnancies that has increased since the closing of schools due to the corona virus pandemic.

According to the education minister of schools in Zimbabwe, Cain Mathema said:

“I'm expecting every parent and guardian and every one else to understand that every child must be assisted by all of us to go to schools”

“Every child whether boy or girl has a right to go to school in Zimbabwe”.

The communication specialist at plan international Zimbabwe accepted and welcomed the decision citing the that the decision will make it easier for abused or pregnant students to return to school as the corona virus lockdown is easing gradually, Sibusisiwe Ndlovu said:

“This amendment is crucial in fulfilling the access to education right for all children especially girls”.