re-entry policy not working

By SITEMBILE SIWAWA

ZAMBIA National Education Coalition (ZANEC) has expressed concern over the alleged failure by teachers to follow-up girls who fall pregnant in order to encourage them to utilise the re-entry policy.

Speaking in an interview, ZANEC executive director Grace Manyonga said the re-entry policy is facing resistance due to failure by teachers to follow up the pregnant girls.

Ms Manyonga said it was incumbent upon teachers to monitor what happens to children in class and provide counselling and guidance when a girl child falls pregnant. 

She also said it was a teacher's duty to create an enabling environment for young mothers in schools.

"Teachers need to start getting concerned when they notice that a child has stopped attending classes and to find out the reason why," she said.

"If teachers are able to do proper tracking of children in their classes, then the re-entry policy will be successfully implemented and utilised," Ms Manyonga said.

She however commended Government for the policy as it was progressive.

"Other countries in Southern African Development Community (SADC) are actually learning about the policy from Zambia because the provisions in the framework are positive," she said.

She also encouraged faith-based schools to start allowing girls back into school once they fall pregnant and that Zambia being a Christian nation should practise forgiveness when a child takes a wrong path; because intolerance has contributed to the high levels of illiteracy among women.

"We are now engaging faith-based schools to rescind their rules of not allowing young mothers back into school because we are all Christians and need forgiveness when we err," she said.

Meanwhile, Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) spokesperson Hillary Chipango confirmed that many teachers do not make follow-ups when a girl child stops attending classes when girl children abandon school especially due to pregnancies.

"A lot has not been done in ensuring that teachers are sensitised on the importance of the re-entry policy for the girl child and as a union we will embark on a programme to sensitise them on this policy," he said.

Mr Chipango also said it was incumbent upon teachers to make sure that the policy is effective and fully-utilised by young mothers.