Approximately 10 million unintended pregnancies occur yearly among girls aged 15-19 years in developing countries In Kenya, the situation is still dire, despite drop in 15–19-year-old girls who pregnant in the past eight years, the live births among this group increased, which means rise in teenage motherhood experiences.
Teenage motherhood not only affects the physical and emotional well-being of the young mothers but also has far-reaching consequences for their educational and economic opportunities. Many teenage mothers are forced to drop out of school due to pregnancy, societal stigma, or lack of support, which often perpetuates the cycle of poverty and social exclusion.
There is overwhelming evidence indicating that teenage pregnancy is the leading cause of school dropout by girls not only in Kenya, but also across the globe.
Despite efforts by the Kenyan government to address this issue through policies such as the National School Health Policy (2009) and the National Guidelines for School Re-Entry in Early Learning and Basic Education (2020), the reintegration of teenage mothers back to school remains a challenge. Factors such as lack of awareness of the rights of teen mothers to return to school, insensitive school environments, and societal stigma continue to hinder the successful implementation of these policies. There’s no clear reporting on the Ministries of Education monitoring the school re-entry of teen mothers. Young mothers are dependent on support from their family to look after their baby so they may re-enter education.
However, it is crucial that we find ways to reintegrate teenage mothers back to school, as their education is not only essential for their personal development but also benefits their communities and society as a whole. Educated girls become educated women who can actively participate in the social, economic, and political spheres of their society, contributing to the overall development and progress of their communities.
To achieve successful reintegration, strategies such as creating supportive and non-discriminatory school environments, providing access to quality and affordable childcare services, and promoting awareness and education on reproductive health and rights must be implemented. We need to prevent first pregnancies for those not yet mothers and repeat pregnancies for the teen mothers’
These strategies, along with the involvement and support of families, communities, and government agencies, can help ensure that teenage mothers have the opportunity to complete their education and improve their prospects for a better future.
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