Tanzania’s President John Magufuli Says Pregnant Girls Shouldn’t Return to School After Childbirth | Find Out Why

Tanzania’s President, John Magufuli, says pregnant girls should stay away from school even after giving birth. He said by getting pregnant, they had chosen parenting over schooling and thus they should stay home and cater to their children.

According to The Africa News, He made this known while addressing the residents of Bagamoyo District in Chalinze town, about 100km west of the capital Dar es Salaam during his three-day-tour of Coast Region.

The President added that men who impregnate the girls should also be given jail terms so that they can put their energies to good use while serving time. It is understood that for some months now, Magufuli’s administration has been pressured by some NGOs to allow teen mothers to return to school but the president is giving no room to grant such decision.

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Magufuli accused some of the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), which have been urging the Tanzanian government to allow teen mothers go back to school, of being used by foreign agents.

He said:

“There are many things that girls, who are impregnated can do after delivery; they can join Vocational Education Training Authority centres (VETA), they can learn sewing but they can’t go back to school, if we were to allow them back to school one day we will find all girls who are in Standard One have babies.”

The NGOs advocating for girls’ rights to education, are said to be urging the government to formulate a legal framework that would allow teenage mothers to resume studies after giving birth.

Photo Credit: Africa News