How St Aquinas turned the tide on teenage pregnancies

Teen mother who is among 31 others who were allowed back in school after giving birth. [Courtesy] In 2023, St Aquinas Chesikaki Secondary School in Mt Elgon, Bungoma County, made national headlines for all the wrong reasons. A report by the Ministry of Health revealed that 54 students from the school were pregnant: 31 were already mothers, 20 were expectant, and three had dropped out entirely. The revelation painted a grim picture of teenage pregnancies in the county, which that same year recorded 196 pregnancies among girls aged between 10-14 and 7,270 cases among those aged 15-19. But just two years later, the school had rewritten its story. With no new pregnancy cases reported this year, St Aquinas has become a model in the fight against early pregnancies, thanks to a united effort involving teachers, parents, local leaders, and various organisations. "We were shaken when the news broke. But that was also the turning point. Community leaders, the National Council for Population Development (NCPD), and other organizations came in to support us. Through mentorship and sensitization, we have turned despair into hope," said the school's principal Paul Boiyo. Mr Boiyo credited NCPD for running mentorship programmes at the school for more than a year. These sessions, he said, have helped students understand the dangers of early sexual activity while boosting their self-esteem and academic performance. "As we speak, the confidence of our girls has grown, absenteeism has dropped, and our learners are more focused," he said. "The school has become child-friendly, where students arrive on time and are eager to learn." The mentorship has gone hand in hand with pastoral care and small-unit counseling sessions led by teachers. These efforts, according to Boiyo, have been vital in addressing the triple threat of teenage pregnancy, HIV, and gender-based violence. He, however, admitted that challenges remain, particularly in changing parental attitudes. "Some parents have not fully taken up their responsibilities," he said. The principal appealed to NCPD and other partners to help establish safe houses for girls and to expand psychosocial support services, especially for boys. Lucy Kimondo, a director in the Public Education and Advocacy Directorate at NCPD, explained that the council took swift action after the 2023 scandal. A fact-finding mission revealed parental negligence and alcoholism were major drivers of teenage pregnancy in the community. "We adopted a whole-community approach. We engaged leaders, parents, teachers, and learners. Sustained involvement over the past year has helped reduce cases significantly, with St Aquinas now standing as proof that change is possible, "Ms Kimondo said. Bungoma County Deputy Governor Jenipher Mbatiany praised the school's progress while highlighting the county's broader fight against teenage pregnancies and gender-based violence. She pointed to the county's gender-based violence (GBV) policy as a milestone.

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How St Aquinas turned the tide on teenage pregnancies

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