Plea to reverse expulsion of pregnant girls

A non-governmental organisation, ASHA Empowerment and Development Initiative, has appealed to government to rescind the policy of expelling female secondary school students on the account of pregnancy.

Admitting that adolescence pregnancy should be discouraged, the initiative described pregnancy-based expulsion as stigmatisation and an infringement on the right of the girl child.

“Nigeria and the world are experiencing an increase in the number of teenage pregnancy and motherhood,” Vweta Ariemugbovbe, the global programme director of the body, said in a statement.

“Expulsion from school and stigmatisation of pregnant teenage girls by their teachers and fellow students suggest that these girls suffer in the hands of people and institutions who should care about their future.

“Such disciplinary action, which many argue is necessary, infringes on a basic right of every girl child: the right to education. In making education accessible and affordable to all girls, the government and interested stakeholders must remove obstacles that prevent girls from receiving education are removed.”

Citing the example of 16-year-old Antonia who cannot return to school, Ariemugbovbe said findings had revealed that a number of female students had been subjected to untold hardship as a result of the policy.

“Like many girls in her community Ajegunle – an urban slum in Lagos – her school’s management expelled her due to pregnancy,” she said.

“Like Antonia, more and more girls are dropping out of school due to expulsion and stigmatisation that soon follows. Lack of flexible curriculum for pregnant and disabled girls whose ability to attend classes is limited due to time conflict.”

She therefore gave some recommendations in commemoration of the international Day of the Girl Child and the Advancement of Female Children.

“As we celebrate the international day of the girl child today, ASHA will continue promoting the voices of girls and women in underserved communities,” she said.

“We will continue to direct the attention of the government and relevant organisations to the needs of pregnant and disabled teenage girls.”

She urged government and school authorities to reconsider the expulsion policy for pregnant students in favour of measures that promote literacy and support ASHA’s vision for flexible school with online presence to meet the needs of ‘dropout’ teenage girls and young mothers.