Kenya: Schools told to readmit girls after giving birth

[Guest guest]

Schools told to readmit girls after giving birth

By TOM MATOKE

tmatoke@...

Posted Tuesday, February 1 2011 at 21:00

School heads have been directed to readmit girls who became pregnant once they

deliver.

The Ministry of Education has warned of stern disciplinary action against

headteachers who defy the directive.

Education assistant minister Ayiecho Olweny said hundreds of pregnant school

girls in different parts of the country end up getting wasted after being denied

admission.

He said the ministry wanted all girls who dropped out over pregnancy allowed

back without conditions to complete their education.

Prof Olweny, however, asked the girls to maintain discipline.

Addressing a funds drive in Nandi Central District, the assistant minister said

the new Constitution allowed students to enjoy the right to education without

discrimination.

He added that post-election violence had negatively affected education in the

country and almost crippled free primary education after the government had

spent more than Sh59 billion on the programme.

Prof Olweny told parents that the government would soon employ nursery school

teachers and warned heads against forcing students to repeat classes due to poor

performance.

Energy assistant minister Magerer Langat asked the Kalenjin community to invest

more in education and ensure schools were well managed. He called for an

increase in bursary to finance education for needy students.

Meanwhile, Nandi North Kenya National Union of Teachers secretary phat Serem

said the new alcohol law would help schools contain drug abuse.

" In the past illegal drugs and alcohol were sneaked into schools by crooked

students, but the new alcohol law has made it difficult for such things, " Mr

Serem said.

The union leader welcomed the government's assurance on employment of nursery

school teachers, saying they played a key role in education at primary level.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Schools%20told%20to%20readmit%20girls%20after%20giv\

ing%20birth%20/-/1056/1099922/-/ax4c3sz/-/index.html

[Guest guest]

Schools told to readmit girls after giving birth

By TOM MATOKE

tmatoke@...

Posted Tuesday, February 1 2011 at 21:00

School heads have been directed to readmit girls who became pregnant once they

deliver.

The Ministry of Education has warned of stern disciplinary action against

headteachers who defy the directive.

Education assistant minister Ayiecho Olweny said hundreds of pregnant school

girls in different parts of the country end up getting wasted after being denied

admission.

He said the ministry wanted all girls who dropped out over pregnancy allowed

back without conditions to complete their education.

Prof Olweny, however, asked the girls to maintain discipline.

Addressing a funds drive in Nandi Central District, the assistant minister said

the new Constitution allowed students to enjoy the right to education without

discrimination.

He added that post-election violence had negatively affected education in the

country and almost crippled free primary education after the government had

spent more than Sh59 billion on the programme.

Prof Olweny told parents that the government would soon employ nursery school

teachers and warned heads against forcing students to repeat classes due to poor

performance.

Energy assistant minister Magerer Langat asked the Kalenjin community to invest

more in education and ensure schools were well managed. He called for an

increase in bursary to finance education for needy students.

Meanwhile, Nandi North Kenya National Union of Teachers secretary phat Serem

said the new alcohol law would help schools contain drug abuse.

" In the past illegal drugs and alcohol were sneaked into schools by crooked

students, but the new alcohol law has made it difficult for such things, " Mr

Serem said.

The union leader welcomed the government's assurance on employment of nursery

school teachers, saying they played a key role in education at primary level.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Schools%20told%20to%20readmit%20girls%20after%20giv\

ing%20birth%20/-/1056/1099922/-/ax4c3sz/-/index.html