Pregnancies among pupils worry authorities

By Peter Mwiinga School authorities at Tungi Primary School in Mongu District, in Western Province have expressed grave concern at the high rate of pregnancies among school pupils at the school. Tungi Primary School teacher Ms. Nawa Nyambe says the number of school drop outs at the school due to pregnancy is alarming. Ms. Nawa was speaking when Mongu Children News Agency - MCNA during an interview with the members. She disclosed that more than 35 pupils last year dropped out of school due to pregnancies. Ms. Nawa attributed the scenario to lack of sex education in schools and some due to poverty among their households which has forced pupils from distant places to rent houses in nearby villages. She pointed out that this has made the girl-child vulnerable to casual and illicit sex. Ms. Nawa said construction of boarding facilities at the school would greatly help to put a stop to causal and illicit sex which has resulted in the present scenario. Meanwhile, Ms. Nawa has attributed the low pass rate at the school to lack of commitment to duty by some teachers who previously manned the school. He added that lack of teaching aids and other school materials also contributed to the low pass rate at the school. He said government is committed to providing the necessary prerequisites to better the pass rate at the school.