Non-profit firm Zizi Afrique Foundation has partnered with the Ministry of Education (MoE) Policy and Partnership Department and the National Gender and Equality Commission to Explore the School Re-Entry Policy among Adolescent Mothers in the Context of Nurturing Care of Children 0–3 Years Old.
Adolescent motherhood has presented significant social and educational challenges in Kenya, despite the existence of policies and frameworks advocating for universal education and gender equality.
However, the Kenyan re-entry policy provides for unconditional re-admission of adolescent mothers to school, yet its implementation is hindered by challenges such as unclear directives, lack of monitoring systems, stigma from peers and teachers, insufficient funding, limited parental involvement, financial constraints, and inadequate childcare services, among other factors.
These barriers, according to a press statement sent to newsrooms, limit the ability of adolescent mothers to resume and sustain their education while addressing their children’s needs as mothers.
Despite the existence of studies on the implementation of school re-entry policy and guidelines, most research is silent on the wellbeing of the child born of an adolescent mother.
In the foregoing, Zizi Afrique Foundation, in collaboration with MoE Policy and Partnership Department and the National Gender and Equality Commission, undertook a study between October and December 2024 to generate evidence on the connectedness of school re-entry policy and the wellbeing of children aged 0 to 3 years in Kenya, specifically in Samburu, Siaya and Mombasa Counties.
The study, in particular, sought to explore and understand barriers and drivers to school re-entry among teen adolescents in Kenya in the context of their children aged 0–3 years and to explore and understand the influences of re-entry or a lack of it on children’s wellbeing guided by the Nurturing Care Framework.
“The findings reflect the high incidences of adolescent pregnancies with a disproportionate distribution in accordance with the Kenya Demographic Health Survey, 2022, as the adolescent prevalence in Siaya stood at 21 percent, Samburu 51 percent and Mombasa 17 percent,” read the statement.
Further, most respondents in the study used the term ‘rampant’ to refer to the magnitude of the adolescent pregnancy as exemplified by one of the head teachers of a school in Samburu County, who reported that about six girls drop out of school because of pregnancy, which translates to 20 girls getting pregnant in a year and dropping out of school.
Despite the high incidences of adolescent pregnancies across the three counties, adolescent pregnancies are viewed negatively and as a violation of societal norms leading to shame, stigma, isolation and in worst cases even abortion.
Also noted were cases of school absenteeism, dropping out, difficulty completing school activities, unpreparedness for motherhood, shame, stress, among other mental health issues.
“Most adolescent mothers are from households with poor income levels. This worrying trend of a mother taking care of another child adds to the burdens highlighted above,” the statement reiterated.
Also, additional costs in provision of basic needs have led to a vicious cycle of poverty and an exposure to other pregnancies which is even worse for teen mothers with disabilities.
The study also revealed minimal awareness of the re-entry policy and/or guidelines and those who are aware do not fully support its full implementation which consequently leads to lack of understanding of specific objectives of the re-entry guidelines among duty bearers and policy implementers.
Stigma and discrimination among peers, teachers and community, financial challenges, lack of childcare facilities and cultural practices also affect re-entry.
As noted from the statement, “Many school administrators, parents and girls do not want to share cases or numbers of adolescent mothers who have been re-admitted in schools. This impedes the efforts in tracking re-entry progress.”
Meanwhile, from the study, several enablers were identified as it established that school re-entry is facilitated by family support (female caregivers) in childcare responsibilities, adolescent personal ambition and intrinsic motivation, guidance and counseling from teachers and support from state and non-state intervention programs.
Therefore, a positive attitude and support for re-entry among adolescent mothers is key to supporting them to achieve their education ambitions.
Although the primary caregivers were adolescent mothers, the babies failed to receive exclusive breastfeeding which necessitated the introduction to complementary meals before the babies attain the age of six months.
Nevertheless, cases of malnutrition among some children were reported mainly in Samburu, and although children received immunizations and medical care, delayed antenatal care (ANC) and healthcare-seeking behaviour was experienced.
In addition, some children faced risks due to unsafe home environments, poor sanitation, and limited supervision.
Inevitably, the partners recommended that stakeholders engage in concerted efforts to: Increase awareness and enforcement of school re-entry policies; Develop a clear monitoring framework to track re-entry cases; Offer support for adolescent mothers; Undertake community engagement; and Provide health and child well-being intervention
By Michael Omondi
