KCSE: School denies locking out pregnant students

An image showing a school girl weeping. IMAGE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Ms Florence Najoli said that some girls disappeared from school upon learning they were expectant.

  • She said the Kakamega school registered three pregnant girls for the national Form Four examination.

  • However, one of the girls disputed the principal’s version of the story.

A secondary school has denied reports that seven students were not registered for this year’s KCSE exams because they were pregnant.

St Mary’s Shihome Girls School head Florence Najoli said the reports were meant to taint the institution’s image.

She said the Kakamega school registered three pregnant girls for the national Form Four examination.

“One of the said girls procured an abortion and we cannot allow that. The children and their parents know abortion is a crime,” Ms Najoli said.

She also said that some girls disappeared from school upon learning they were expectant.

HIGH RATE

“The rate of pregnancy and abortion in this school is high. Most cases occur immediately after holidays. The community and the school need to work hand in hand to reduce the cases,” she said.

However, one of the girls disputed the principal’s version of the story.

“The teachers told us that we would tarnish the name of the school,” she said.

“I tried to seek the principal’s intervention but she said the school board bars any pregnant girl from registering for KCSE examination.”

A mother of one of the girls said her daughter was denied registration.

“It is painful for a parent who has struggled to pay fees to learn that the child will not be sitting the test,” she said.

The girl’s father said when his wife was called to school, he thought it was a minor disciplinary case. “Other pregnant girls were sent away from school. It is not fair to make fun of a pregnant girl,” he said.

He said despite his pleas to the school to reconsider the decision, it refused.“My child will give birth this month and I plan to talk to teachers to allow her back to school because her performance was good. Pregnancy is not the end of life,” he said.