Principal Ruth Malika says she was shocked after discovering the number of students who were either pregnant or had already become mothers.
The principal of Bakisa Girls Secondary School, Ruth Malika, has raised concern over the number of students affected by teenage pregnancies, saying the situation is increasingly worrying.
Speaking about the challenge, Malika said she once asked a teacher to compile the names of students who were pregnant as well as those who had already given birth.
What she found left her shocked.
According to the principal, nearly 36 students had either become mothers or were pregnant, a situation she said was deeply troubling.
Malika expressed concern that some students appeared to treat teenage pregnancy as though it were a normal occurrence, despite the impact it can have on their education and future.
“Karibu 36 students washakuwa mama ama kuna wengine ambao ni wajawazito,” she said.
She also linked teenage pregnancies to poor academic performance, noting that some of the affected students struggle when examination results are released.
The principal’s remarks have drawn attention to the continuing challenge of teenage pregnancies among school-going girls and the disruption they can cause to their education.
Her comments come as schools and communities continue to grapple with how best to keep girls in school and protect them from circumstances that could derail their education.
