Seven pregnant girls in Kakamega 'denied chance to write KCSE'

Seven girls have been denied a chance to sit this year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations for being pregnant.

A mother to a 16-year-old expectant student said yesterday that she was called to her daughter’s school - St Marys Shihome Girls in Kakamega County - last term and informed that her daughter was pregnant.

“I went to school and the principal told me the school boardhad agreed that any girl who was pregnant could not register for examinations,” the mother explained.

“Seeing my daughter missing out on registration for exams is hurting,” said the woman whose daughter is expected to deliver this month.

Another girl said she would like to go back to school and sit her exams. “I was chased away and told I could not register because I am pregnant. Teachers told me and the other girls that they didn’t want us to soil the name of the school,” she said.

The student said a married man from Mukongolo village was responsible for her pregnancy. The deadline for registration was March 31.

ABORTION CRIMINAL

Principal Florence Najoli denied that she had refused to register pregnant students.

“We have three girls who were pregnant. Two disappeared and one procured an abortion. There is one girl who was expectant, we registered her but she procured an abortion and as a school we decided that any girl who has had an abortion should not be allowed in school. Abortion is criminal and the parents know that,” she said.

She termed the rate of pregnancy and abortion in the school as alarming and urged the community to work hand-in-hand with the school to address the problem.

“The rate of pregnancy and abortion in this school is alarming. Most cases occur during holidays. The community and the school should work hand-in-hand in order to reduce the cases,” said Ms Najoli, who added that most girls fall pregnant during holidays.

Kakamega County Education Director Susan Murerwa she was not aware of the expulsions but promised to investigate the matter.