Stigma and lack of policy structure have been identified as the greatest impediments to re-entry and retaining of student teenage mothers in schools in Siaya County.
Siaya county Imarisha Msichana project coordinator Everlyne Amunga has observed that despite numerous sensitisation efforts, teenage girls who have opted to go back to school still face a lot of stigma from their fellow students and the community at large.
“We have done a lot as an organisation in terms of sensitisation in Siaya County but the teenage mothers are still called derogatory names by their classmates or even viewed negativity by the community which has not only discouraged some of them but also contributed to some dropping out of school once again,” Amunga disclosed.
According to Kenya Demographic Health Survey 2022 report on teenage pregnancy, siaya county ranks 4th nationally at 21% contributing to high number of girls dropping out of school.
Imarisha Msichana project implemented by Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) in conjuction with Mastercard Foundation aims at reducing cases of teenage pregnancy as well as ending early child marriages with keen focus of re-entry of teenage mother back to school.
Amunga further observed that lack of policy and support structure has also negated their efforts in retaining the teenage mothers in school since there is no clear strategy of retaining the mothers in schools and assisting them to transit to next career level.
“We have begun working on a policy which is being developed by education stakeholders in the region that will see to it that the teenage mothers are not only retained in school but also their children supported to ensure they fully focus in school. The policy will also spell out how the teenage mothers back in school will be supported to transit to the next level of their careers,”she said
Amunga disclosed that the programme aimed at promoting re-entry of teenage mothers back to school has yielded fruits with many girls who had initially dropped out of school due to unwanted pregnancies opting to go back to school to pursue their dreams.
“We work with various schools in Siaya County like Rambira girls in Rarieda sub county, Nyaguda and Nyamonye girls in Bondo sub counties to ensure that our girls get second chance in life, the impact has been significant and teenage mothers opt to rejoin various schools across the region,” she said.
The county project coordinator advised the public and students in Siaya County to shun stigmatisation of teenage mothers who have opted to go back to school and instead give them support as a strategy of alleviating poverty in the region.
Speaking during a multi-stakeholder meeting in Siaya, the county director of youth and social services Maida Nyawade said the county government is ready to support initiatives geared towards reducing teenage pregnancies and fostering re-entry of teenage mother to school.
“We are in support of any engagement that will reduce teenage pregnancy and re-entry of teenage mothers into school because if we do not do it, we shall be perpetuating poverty circle in the region,” Nyawade said.
Nyawade reiterated that due to high rate of teenage pregnancy in the region, the government of Siaya is working round the clock to develop Children policy to enable it come up with sustainable interventions.
“We are currently in the process of developing both the child and youth policies which we believe will help us intervene more decisively,” Nyawade added.
By Brian Ondeng
