Thousands of girls in Zimbabwe, predominantly from rural areas, left school in 2023 due to pregnancy, according to the country’s education minister.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerai Moyo revealed to parliament on Wednesday that 4,557 girls dropped out of school due to pregnancy last year, with the vast majority – 3,942 – coming from rural schools.

The figures paint a stark picture of the challenges facing young women in Zimbabwe’s education system, particularly in rural areas where access to resources and support may be limited.

Of particular concern is the revelation that 134 of these cases were recorded in primary schools, indicating that very young girls are being affected by this issue.

Minister Moyo outlined several measures the government has implemented to address the problem. These include the introduction of guidance and counselling in schools and legal provisions to allow pregnant girls to continue their education.

“According to the Education Amendment Act of 2020, we do not encourage girls to drop out because they are pregnant. We encourage them to continue according to the Act,” Moyo stated. He added that students are allowed up to two weeks of maternity leave after giving birth before returning to school.

The government is also working with partners to provide support for affected students. Moyo highlighted the role of CAMFED (Campaign for Female Education), which offers scholarships to girls who have dropped out of school.

A recent initiative has seen the launch of a US$48.8 million fund from Global Partners in Education, with US$80 million allocated to CAMFED specifically to support girls affected by pregnancy and other challenges.

Despite these efforts, the high number of dropouts points to deeper societal issues. The rise in teenage pregnancies has been attributed to several factors, including lax enforcement of laws, widespread poverty, and entrenched cultural and religious practices.