10 Dec 2020

Parliament has been informed that three 15-year-old pupils from Shoshong Junior Secondary School (JSS) dropped out due to pregnancy since January 2019 to December 2020.

Answering a question in Parliament, the Assistant Minister of Basic Education, Ms Nnaniki Makwinja noted that Shoshong Senior Secondary school (SSSS) recorded nine cases of pupils who dropped out due to teenage pregnancy.

Six of them were 18-years-old while three were 19. She said since Shoshong JSS did not have boarding facilities, all the three pregnancies were day scholars while at Shoshong senior, seven were bording pupils.

Ms Makwinja also noted that the ministry was responsible for the security of all pupils, adding that there was a private security company engaged at Shoshong senior.

She further explained that every hostel had been allocated two security guards together with a boarding master and a matron.

Shoshong MP, Mr Aubrey Lesaso wanted to know the number of students that had dropped out of school due to teenage pregnancy at Shoshong senior, their ages and the number of those boarding.  He also wanted to know if it was the responsibility of the government to ensure the security of the boarding pupils. Ends