Harare – The classrooms of Zimbabwe are echoing with a silent crisis. While the nation strives for progress, a shocking reality is unfolding, one that threatens to derail the dreams of countless young girls. An alarming number of schoolgirls are forced to abandon their education after engaging in unprotected sex resulting in pregnancy, a grim consequence of poverty, societal pressures, and a lack of comprehensive support systems.
The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has sounded the alarm, calling for immediate action to address this crisis. Their plea? A moratorium on tuition fees, a bold step they believe is necessary to safeguard the right to education for all girls, particularly those most vulnerable to the harsh realities of poverty and societal expectations.
“Education is the birthright of every child, not a privilege reserved for the wealthy,” ARTUZ declared in a statement. “If these burdensome fees are eliminated, there is hope that vulnerable girls will have the opportunity to learn, grow, and establish a path towards a brighter tomorrow.”
The painful reality of this situation is reflected in the heartbreaking stories of young girls like those from Angwa Secondary School in Mbire District, where 11 girls were forced to leave school last year due to pregnancy. Their dreams of a future beyond the confines of their impoverished communities were abruptly shattered, replaced by the harsh realities of early motherhood.
“This is a grave injustice,” ARTUZ lamented. “Poverty is driving girls into child marriage, and families are making the unthinkable choice to sacrifice the futures of their young girls. This violates their basic human rights, and we will not stand idly by.”
The situation is further exacerbated by the deeply ingrained societal attitudes and stereotypes that continue to hinder the implementation of the Education Act, which guarantees access to education for pregnant students and adolescent mothers. The law, however, is often rendered ineffective by the very financial barriers it seeks to address.
“Negative attitudes and stereotypes continue to hinder the successful implementation of the Education Act,” ARTUZ pointed out. “The reality is that many families, burdened by poverty, simply cannot afford the fees associated with keeping their daughters in school, especially when they become pregnant.”
Adding fuel to the fire is the pervasive issue of corruption within the education sector. Misappropriation of public funds and embezzlement of resources meant for education have further eroded the already fragile system, leaving vulnerable girls with even fewer options.
“Rooting out corruption in the education sector must be a top priority to protect the future of Zimbabwe and its people,” ARTUZ stressed. “Investing in education is essential for developing the skilled workforce and informed citizenry needed to build sustainable economic growth and social progress.”
The statistics paint a harrowing picture. A report titled ‘National Assessment on Adolescent Pregnancies in Zimbabwe’ released last year by UNICEF, UNFPA, and UNESCO revealed that a staggering 97 percent of girls did not return to school after falling pregnant, despite the new policy guaranteeing their right to education.
The sheer scale of the problem is staggering. During the COVID-19 period, between 2020 and 2021, a total of 5,000 girls fell pregnant, with 3,000 of those pregnancies recorded in March alone, according to statistics from the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development.
The UNFPA paints an even more alarming picture, reporting that 350,000 girls aged between 10 and 19 fell pregnant between 2019 and 2022.
Activists warn that the high prevalence of pregnancies among schoolgirls is also fuelling child marriages, as many girls, lacking alternative options, feel compelled to marry after falling pregnant and bearing children.
The consequences of this crisis extend far beyond the individual lives of these young girls. It represents a systemic failure, a failure to provide adequate support and opportunities for girls to thrive. It also undermines the nation’s future, robbing Zimbabwe of its most valuable resource: its young, educated minds.
“This is not just a problem for the girls affected,” a leading Zimbabwean sociologist, Mr Joshua Mlambo told My Zimbabwe News. “This is a problem for our entire nation. We are losing a generation of potential leaders, innovators, and contributors to society.”
The call for a tuition fees moratorium is a bold and necessary step, a sign that the nation must prioritize the education of its girls. It is a call for a shift in mindset, a recognition that the future of Zimbabwe hinges on the empowerment of its young women.
“We will not rest until every child has access to a quality education,” ARTUZ vowed. “There will be no more broken dreams, no more stolen futures.”
