OVER 2,000 basic school pupils fell pregnant in Southern Province.
Provincial education officer Stephen Chishiko says over 250 pupils in secondary school fell pregnant the same year, a development he said is of great concern.
Mr Chishiko revealed the statistics during the World Teachers Day celebrations held in Choma on Monday under the theme “Unite for quality education for a better tomorrow.”
“The issue of early pregnancies and early marriages among school going girls still concerns the ministry greatly. Last year, the province witnessed about 2,030 pregnancies at basic school level and 507 re-admissions while 264 pregnancies and 120 re-admissions were reported respectively at secondary level,” he said.
Mr Chishiko appealed to parents, traditional leaders, and religious groups to help speak against child pregnancies, which he described as detrimental to the victims’ academic progress.
“The figures given above show a gloomy picture that needs concerted efforts…community leaders need to take an active role in protecting the girl- child against this trend which undoubtedly hinders her academic progress,” he said.
Mr Chishiko also underscored the need to sensitise the public about the school re-entry policy which allows a girl -child to return to school after giving birth.
And Mr Chishiko called on teachers to lead exemplary and professional lives that will inspire their leharners.
“Statistics show that most girls dropping out of school have no models to look up to, while others are forced into marriages by their parents.
I implore teachers to inspire both the learners and the community they serve,” he said.
Mr Chishiko informed the teachers that Government is concerned and is working towards addressing the issues.
Earlier, Professional Teachers Union of Zambia president Mwitumwa Kabimba called on Government to clear all outstanding claims for teachers such as leave travel benefits and settling in allowances.
MUSADABWE
October 9, 2014 at 6:53 am
Aba Tonga Bafikala Ukutemwa Ubucende. No Wonder The Number Of Pregnances Is So High
Chinyenyenye
October 9, 2014 at 7:02 am
Ummh, So from books to naked bodies what is wrong with the youth of this generation. Does it mean if a man shows you his nakedness or sticks his tongue in your mouth then you have to allow him in your bengazi?
petersen
October 9, 2014 at 7:54 am
Aba tonga nokushishita kwine! Thay cant challenge a guy to wear a stoga or throw his waste outside! And these are the same pipo u want to rule in 2016 pantu bakalatombanafye ubwaila no bwacha ne ngombe shabo….
kasantana
October 9, 2014 at 8:06 am
Kwena aba Tonga muli bakali guys,behaviour kwati ma bulls ayo muteka sure.Finshi bapela tu gelo pakuti tulefula kaputula without hesitation? Nkesa sendako mutototo waba Tonga
Keith
October 9, 2014 at 12:55 pm
I agree our bemba mutoto is weaker.
max millian
October 9, 2014 at 8:48 am
men at work. this is serious.
Chief Of Grief
October 9, 2014 at 8:48 am
i think mfwile napempulako uko pantu its like twakwaba obstruction yaku tombana kanshi ni more vagina in my pants.Just continue that development uko pantu ichipingo chalisosa ati kabiyeni mukasandane…………tu much nyele abaiche ba uko..!!!!
IF NOT
October 9, 2014 at 10:32 am
We need prayers as a nation, these statistics are so alarming. How do we prevent HIV/AIDS kanshi? Bloggers all the 72 tribes plus foreigners are found in southern province so its not just Tongaz
Emelia mwale
October 9, 2014 at 11:00 am
Its just a generation which want 2 practice what they are taught n either n class or n muchimoye.God help us
barose activist
October 9, 2014 at 11:02 am
umwaice nga aumfwa umuswibo, bwafya, ni kamubola badala!!! kamulya kamuseka.
Jumbo
October 9, 2014 at 11:27 am
We need sex education in Secondary schools from the age of fifteen. If parents are shy or too busy to educate their kids about the consequences of having sex, then let a teacher educate them.
IF NOT
October 9, 2014 at 12:14 pm
perhaps technology has also contributed bcoz they are too exposed to stuff on the internet and movies.
Laso
October 9, 2014 at 12:45 pm
takwaba technology kubutonga so entertainment ni mutuputula…..
PanAfricanist
October 9, 2014 at 1:30 pm
Tonga bulls and Teacher ‘chalk bonus’. With Tongas everyone is your ‘cousin’. I’m told as a young man in Tonga land, your gal cousin is your ‘poking’ bag. The worse case scernario is cow or a goat or a pig on a bad day.
Laso
October 9, 2014 at 2:52 pm
haha u r crazy lol
petro
October 9, 2014 at 2:03 pm
lack of recreation facilities has lead youths in indulgin in sex & beer drinking as a way of passing tym
dorika
October 9, 2014 at 4:20 pm
abatonga ba sex fye, that is why they ‘do’ their cows.
chiz~man
October 9, 2014 at 4:22 pm
Chinshi akonkako..?nilikwidi ukulowa!!
Icon
October 9, 2014 at 5:46 pm
God said “Wilacita bucende”. they wil c & know in future y God said so.They wil reap wat they ar sawing very.
Jonatas Milz
October 9, 2014 at 8:40 pm
Tonga bulls! Ninshi kulibe AIDS kwao?
amashinsha
October 10, 2014 at 12:04 am
Ukutombana kwacila ulupwa!