THE high pregnancy rate among schoolgirls in Shang’ombo district in Western Province has worried the Teachers Response Against Child Abuse (TRACA). TRACA is an organisation of teachers from both private and public schools who have united to serve the interest of pupils. District TRACA co-ordinator Moffat Kawana said in an interview that a recently conducted research established that most girls in the area have children before they reach the age of 18.

Mr Kawana said girls are forced to have children at a tender age because of the alleged traditional belief among the Kwamashi people that one becomes infertile if they do not have a child by the age of 18.

He said some girls make fun of teachers who do not have children yet. “The situation in Shang’ombo is worrying because children as young as 13 years old already have children and most of them have dropped out of school,” he said. Mr Kawana said the organisation has intensified sensitisation through drama and training, which the pupils have welcomed.

He said TRACA recently held an internship programme at Shang’ombo Secondary School to sensitise pupils on how to protect themselves from abuse. Mr Kawana also said the organisation plans to organise games through which pupils will share ideas on child abuse and