74 teenage mothers return to school

The Girls Education Unit of the Nkoranza South Municipal Directorate of Education has from 2007 -2013, counselled and re-enrolled 74 teenage mothers and school drop-outs to continue their education.

Madam Agatha Osei, Municipal Girls Education Officer, told Ghana News Agency at Nkoranza in an interview that 35 of the teenagers are currently in junior high school, 16 of them in senior high school (SHS) while 11 are learning various vocations.

She said 12 of them had completed SHS and furthering their education, while the others are employed.

Madam Osei noted that the rate of teenage pregnancies in the Municipality is alarming and suggested the need for parents to provide the basic needs of their adolescent girls to discourage them from pre-marital sex.

She identified peer influence, broken homes, lack of accommodation, and influence of pornographic materials as some of the causes of teenage pregnancies in the communities.

Madam Osei pointed out that from 2011-2013, more than 30 teenage pregnancies had been recorded from schools in the Municipality.

She urged female teachers to promote the establishment of girls’ clubs and serve as role models while religious bodies should use the pulpit to promote girls’ education.

Madam Osei appealed to non-governmental organisation and benevolent organisations to assist the needy but brilliant girls in the Municipality to prevent them from dropping out of school.

Source: GNA