As the landscape of education and youth empowerment continues to evolve in Uganda, addressing the critical issue of teenage pregnancy in school settings takes on greater urgency.
Harris Namutebi, the Executive Director of the Network for Community Development (NCD) Uganda, is at the forefront of this vital discourse. With the dissemination meeting that aimed at evaluating the impact of the 2020 revised guidelines on the prevention and management of teenage pregnancy, Harris and her team engaged with civil society organizations (CSOs) and other stakeholders in a meaningful dialogue.
This meeting, conducted in partnership with Women Rural Development Networks (WORUDET) Care International , Restless Development, the Center for Reproductive Rights, with financial support from Global Affairs Canada, focused on identifying the effectiveness of these guidelines, as well as the gaps in dissemination and implementation.
In this exclusive Q&A, we sit down with Harris Namutebi to gain insights into the objectives of the meeting, the collaborative efforts of various organizations, and the challenges and opportunities presented by the revised guidelines.
1. Can you provide an overview of the upcoming dissemination meeting on the research regarding the 2020 revised guidelines on prevention and management of teenage pregnancy in school settings?
Adolescent girls have historically been left out of traditional adolescent SRHR programming, difficult to reach and yet often have the greatest need and least access to comprehensive SRHR. The Government of Uganda through line Ministries have formulated policies to address some of these issues, however, despite these efforts, there are still limitations to enjoyment of SRHR by adolescents especially the out of school.
With the surge in the teenage pregnancy rates during the Covid 19 Pandemic, the government of Uganda through the ministry of Education revised the guidelines for preventing and management of teenage pregnancies in school settings in uganda-2020 to ensure that teen mothers return to school after giving birth, while this is a welcome intervention by the government, a lot of teenage mothers are still not returning and staying in school. Network for Community Development (NCD) and Women Rural Development Network (WORUDET) and under the SHE SOARS project conducted an extensive research on the Revised Guidelines on the Management and Prevention of Teenage Pregnancies in School Settings in Uganda-2020 to find out why despite the guidelines in place, many teenage mother still fail to go and stay in school after giving birth.
2. What are the primary objectives of the research that was shared at this meeting? How do these objectives align with the needs of CSOs and other stakeholders in Uganda?
- To assess the extent to which the gaps in the Revised Guidelines on the Management and Prevention ofTeenage Pregnancies in School Settings in Uganda – 2020 have affected the reintegration of teenage mothers in schools.
- To assess the extent to which the gaps in the dissemination of the revised guidelines have affected the reintegration of teen mothers in schools in Uganda.
- To assess the extent to which the gaps in the implementation of the revised guidelines have affected the reintegration of teenage mothers in schools in Uganda
This helps identify the underlying causes that affect school reentry and retention of adolescent mothers.
3. This meeting involved several organizations, including Care Canada, Restless Development, Center for Reproductive Rights, and Global Affairs Canada. How have these partnerships shaped the research and its findings?
The research is a small component of the program called Sexual and reproductive Health and Economic empowerment (SHE) Supporting Out-of- school Adolescent girls’ Rights and Skills (SOARS). SHE SOARS puts the needs and rights of out-of-school adolescent girls at the centre of all activities. It is expected to directly support 240,288 adolescent girls between 10-19 implemented in Uganda, Kenya and Zambia. One of the key objectives of the SHESOARS Program is;
To engage in long-term and sustainable sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) policy advocacy to address the unique risks and protection needs of out-of-school adolescent girls and boys aged 10-19 years in Kenya, Zambia and Uganda.
With this NCD and WORUDET, who are SHESOARS implementing partners in Uganda identified school reentry and retetion of PGAMs as a challenge affecting adolscents thus delving into this research tittled: Assessing The 2020 Revised Guidelines for Prevention and Management of Teenage Pregnancy in School Settings in Uganda. Effectiveness, Dissemination, and Implementataion Gaps October 2024.
Center for Reproductive Rights has played an instrumental role in building capacities of Women Rights Organization to enagage in legal and policy research and advocate for evidence based SRHR polices at local ,regional and global level.
Care International and Restless Development , play an instrumental role through a participatory, youth-led design and implementation approach, SHE SOARS implements evidence-based health system strengthening interventions, deep and transformative community engagement on harmful gender and social norms.
4. Can you highlight some of the key findings from the research regarding the effectiveness of the 2020 guidelines? What insights can stakeholders take away from these findings?
- The guidelines formalize at the national level the expulsion of pregnant learners through the mandatory ‘maternity leave’ when the learner is at least three months pregnant and 6 months after giving birth leading to a period of 1 year being out of school as highlighted on page 18 of the revised guidelines.
- The guidelines state that girls should be regularly checked for pregnancy, at least once per term and at specified times. However, the guidelines only mention mandatory pregnancy testing without detailing how it should be conducted in a way that will uphold the respect, dignity, and privacy of the learners.
- The revised guidelines lack provisions for maintaining the confidentiality of pregnancy test results. Instead, they mandate schools to inform the parents of any pregnant learner, regardless of potential negative consequences such as physical, verbal, or emotional abuse from parents, as evidenced by cases where pregnant girls endure mistreatment from their guardians.
- The guidelines limit schools to the abstinence only strategy as highlighted in section 2.2 of the revised guidelines which has failed to provide adolescents with timely, comprehensive, and non-judgmental information that responds to their realties and their sexual and reproductive health needs leading to persistent high rates of teenage pregnancies.
- The guidelines provide for sensitization of the public and especially foundation bodies on the guidelines. The 2022 Teenage Mothers’ Survey reported that some respondents opposed school reintegration for teenage mothers, with a perception that it would increase the number of teenage mothers since the rest of the learners view this as a privilege.
- The guidelines have No specified penalties for violation. Page 14 of the Revised Guidelines says that the Minister shall, by statutory instrument, specify penalties for default under each guideline after the approval of the guidelines. However, the penalties have not been put in place and specified. This has created a loophole for schools to openly violate the guidelines, especially on readmissions.
- Pages 20 and 21 of the guidelines stipulate procedures that support the re-admission of teenage mothers into school. This has been openly violated by some institutions, religious-founded institutions, which openly declare their unwillingness to allow teenage mothers to return to school.
- While the guidelines mandate pregnant learners to sit for national examinations, they do not ensure the provision of adequate facilities for breastfeeding mothers, which are crucial for maintaining a supportive environment conducive to academic success of the teenage mothers.
- Despite the guidelines assigning school administrators and teachers the task of protecting teenage mothers from discrimination and stigmatization and reassuring of their safety at school, negative attitudes from teachers, peers, parents and communities continue to be a stumbling block for teenage mothers and pregnant girls to realize their right to education.
The key insightS are:
Aadministrative and budgetary allocations to MoES, to review and amend the revised Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Teenage Pregnancies in School Setting in Uganda – 2020 to:
- Specify all penalties for default of provisions of the guidelines to hold institutions of learnings accountable for violation of readmission procedures of pregnant girls/teenage mothers.
- Remove all provisions that allow forced pregnancy testing, mandatory leave for pregnant girls and a boy if he is father to the child.
- Include provisions for informed consent. This is highly important in pregnancy testing procedures. Learners and their parents/guardians should be fully informed about the purpose, implications, and alternatives to pregnancy testing. Consent should be obtained freely and without coercion, respecting the rights and autonomy of the learners.
5. The theme of the meeting emphasizes “effectiveness, dissemination, and implementation gaps.” Can you explain what some of these gaps are and their implications for addressing teenage pregnancy in schools?
The gaps are highlighted above, gaps at formation / effectiveness of the guidelines,
Gaps at dissemination include: only 277 (The acting gender advisory at the Ministry of Education and Sports in 2021 emphasized that the ministry had earnestly engaged over 277 district education officials, district community-based service officials, district health officers, senior women and men teachers, sub-county chiefs, headteachers and learners from the districts of Kassanda, Mubende, Mayuge, Namutumba, Namayingo and Mukono. However, this coverage is not sufficient in the dissemination (New Vision, February 2022) These are few districts compared to the number of dustricts affected by teenage pregnancies
Gaps at implementation include :
Violation of readmission procedures
Pages 20 and 21 of the guidelines stipulate procedures that support the readmission of teenage mothers into school. For instance, they state that once the teenage mother’s baby is at least six months old, she shall be allowed to be admitted back to school unconditionally. However, this has been openly violated by some institutions, especially faith-based educational institutions which openly declare their unwillingness to allow teenage mothers to return to school.
Discrimination and Stigmatization
Despite the guidelines assigning school administrators and teachers the task of protecting teenage mothers from discrimination and stigmatization and reassuring of their safety at school, negative attitudes from teachers, peers, parents and communities continue to be a stumbling block for teenage mothers and pregnant girls to realize their right to education.
6. What role do you see for civil society organizations (CSOs) in the implementation of the revised guidelines and addressing teenage pregnancy in Uganda?
CSOs have a role to play, as stipulated in the guidelines. These include: Support to local government to disseminate and popularize the guideline, Collaboration with schools to implement these guidelines, supporting parenting girls in coping mechanism for their well being, implement good practices, Resource person to school health clubs, Advocating for the Children’s rights including right to complete school by the pregnant girls and adolescent mothers
7. How do you envision the engagement of various stakeholders during the meeting? What kind of discussions or activities took place?
We held a panel discussion with adolescent mothers and fathers who shared their insights on challenges they encountered after getting pregnant or impregnating a girl. We dived into a discussion on why they continued with school or why they didn’t continue with school which set the ground for delving into the research.
8. Following the dissemination meeting, what are the anticipated next steps? How will the findings from the research inform future strategies and policies?
We plan to engage line ministries, civil society organizations, policy makers through constructive dialogue on the need to review, disseminate and implement the guidelines.
9. What are some of the challenges currently faced in preventing and managing teenage pregnancies in school settings? How can these be addressed collaboratively?
One of the key challenges is schools refusing pregnant learners to sit to exams, schools refusing to re admit PGAMs, stigma and discrimination in schools, lack or inactive School Health Committees that are supposed to provide SRH information, guidance and counselling to learners in schools. Dissemination and implementation of the guidelines is one way of addressing these challenges as schools will have to put in place structures to support school reentry and retention of PGAMs, address stigma and discrimination and establish SHCs as mandated by the guidelines.
10. What message do you want to convey to the stakeholders attending this meeting? What should they keep in mind as they engage with the research findings?
When we positively use the research findings, we will be better placed to support more PGAM to return to school thus reducing re-occurrence of teenage pregnancy.
11. In your view, what would be the long-term impact of effectively implementing the revised guidelines on teenage pregnancy in Uganda’s educational settings?
With increased awareness on prevention on teenage pregnancy, we are likely to have a reduction in the number of cases of teenage pregnancy in schools. When schools implement the management component on the guidelines, we are likely to have more PGAMs rejoin school and complete school.
12. As the Executive Director of the Network for Community Development Uganda, what personal commitments do you have towards improving the situation regarding teenage pregnancies in schools?
At NCD we are making positive efforts in preventing teenage pregnancy, here with support from Mundo Cooperante – Right to be a girl Campaign, we are supporting 113 girls at high risk of teenage pregnancy and child marriages access primary and secondary education in Mukono.
With support from Paul Hodges Trust, we have supported 80 vulnerable girls and young women with tailoring skills in Mukono and Buikwe as a means of ensuring that they can support their children. We further hold discussions with them on the danger of teenage pregnancies, child marriages and the need for economic independence.
With support from AmplifyChange, NCD is implementing: Her Right, Her Voice: Advocacy for De-stigmatization of School Re-entry of adolescent mothers in Uganda. The project is implemented in 10 Government aided primary schools in Mukono, it has equipped 532 learners, 68 adolescent mothers, 40 teachers, 90 members of the school management committees,16 religious and 12 cultural leaders and 42 district technical officers with knowledge and information on the school re-entry guidelines. This has enhanced constructive dialogue between duty bearers and right holders on SRHR of pregnant girls and adolescent mothers in schools.
While the project advocates for the implementation of “Revised guidelines on the Prevention and management of teenage pregnancy in school settings in Uganda 2020” providing pregnant girls and adolescent mothers an opportunity to resume school, the project focuses on raising awareness on the guidelines advocating for obligations of schools, parents and other key actors.
- Pregnant candidate girls have a right to sit for the national examinations, unlike in the past where schools focus on expelling of pregnant girls, our advocacy aims at ensuring that this right to sit for national exams is observed. We are happy to note that this year a candidate in one of the targeted schools has sat for PLE with minimal stigma. As a result of this advocacy this learner was traced by the Community Development Officer, supported by the school admission through counselling to continue with school and sit for PLE.
- Schools are mandated to establish a School Health Committee (SHC) that provide SRH information to learners. Our advocacy efforts are targeting the 10 schools to establish the SHC, these efforts are still ongoing.
- Elimination of violence and stigmatization of pregnant girls and adolescent mothers, providing equal treatment to both boys and girls. Ridicule or discrimination of the pregnant girls is considered a form of psychological and emotional violence. While schools are mandated to take measures prevent violence against learner, teachers and fellow learners have been reported as key perpetuators of this violence. Our advocacy continues to ensure schools create the required structures to eliminate violence against pregnant girls. This is done through community dialogues; school advocacy meetings and pupils open conversation meetings.
On an individual basis, I champion girls education by personally supporting 4 girls with educational bills with the hope that it will reduce their vulnerability to sexual exploitation.
13. Finally, how do you see this meeting contributing to a hopeful future for youth in Uganda regarding education and reproductive health?
The meeting is a reminder to all of us as stakeholders to fulfil our responsibilities in creating a safe learning environment for all children. Once we take up our responsibilities, we will reduce teenage pregnancies in schools as well as support the few pregnant learners to rejoin and complete school.
One of the key objectives of this meeting was to share findings with key stakeholders as well as mobilize support to collaborate, advocate for addressing of the gaps identified in the report.
Collaborative effort
Teenage pregnancies are as a result of societal failure to provide age appropriate sexual reproductive health information as well as failure to safe guard our children. This then exposes children to sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse. No one can solely address challenges of teenage pregnancy, school dropout, re-entry and retention of Pregnant Girls and Adolescents Mothers (PGAM) alone. That is why partnerships and collaboration are essential, with this we strive to have different agencies make a contribution to school re-entry and retention of PGAM. For instance, organization with a strengthen in legal and policy advocacy can come together to advocate for review in the guidelines thus addressing the inbuilt gaps. Organizations that have a niche at dissemination and implementations can go a long way is ensuring that these guidelines are populized among the masses. We are further engaging individuals such as religious leaders that have a key role to play.
Challenges
Teenage pregnancy accounts for 22.3 per cent of school dropouts among girls aged between 14 to 18 years. Only 8 percent of the girls that drop out of school are given a second chance to re-enroll (MoES, 2020). One of the key challenges is low dissemination of these guidelines, while schools are key actors in implementing these guidelines, a large number of school administrators are not fully aware of these guidelines affecting their implementation.
Stigma and discrimination of pregnant learners and adolescent mothers is rampant in schools and communities in Uganda, this affects school reentry and retention thus the need of awareness raising and dissemination of the guidelines.
There are inbuilt gaps in the guidelines that formalize at the national level the expulsion of pregnant learners through the mandatory ‘maternity leave’ when the learner is at least three months pregnant and 6 months after giving birth leading to a period of 1 year being out of school as highlighted on page 18 of the revised guidelines.
The guidelines state that girls should be regularly checked for pregnancy, at least once per term and at specified times. However, the guidelines only mention mandatory pregnancy testing without detailing how it should be conducted in a way that will uphold the respect, dignity, and privacy of the learners. This inbuilt gap continues to violate the educational rights of girls as seen in the recent court case
African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) Communication No: 0012/Com/001/2019; Decision No 002/2022, where Legal and Human Rights Centre and Centre for Reproductive Rights (on behalf of Tanzanian girls) v United Republic of Tanzania, held that the practices surrounding mandatory pregnancy testing and expulsion of pregnant girls in schools was in contravention of Article 11 of the Charter and directed Tanzania to reform its education policies to comply with human rights standards. Uganda, having ratified the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, is bound by this precedent and mandated to replicate ACERWC’s recommendations.
In October 2024, court ruled in the case of Women with a Mission (WwM) on behalf of Mr. Wafula, that expelling of a school going child over pregnancy was a gross violation of human rights and ordered reinstatement. (Women With A Mission &2 Ors v The School Management Committee of Busumba Primary School, Miscellaneous Cause No001 of 2024. High Court ofUganda)
The guidelines have No specified penalties for violation. Page 14 of the Revised Guidelines says that the Minister shall, by statutory instrument, specify penalties for default under each guideline after the approval of the guidelines. However, the penalties have not been put in place and specified. This has created a loophole for schools to openly violate the guidelines, especially on readmissions.
Pages 20 and 21 of the guidelines stipulate procedures that support the re-admission of teenage mothers into school. This has been openly violated by some institutions, religious-founded institutions, which openly declare their unwillingness to allow teenage mothers to return to school.
Its important to note that we have had discussions with the line ministry and its highlighted that due to budget constraints dissemination and implementation of the guidelines remains low
Opportunities
When all stakeholders come together there is an opportunity for constructive dialogue which I believe whose efforts will result into dissemination, implementation and review of the guidelines. This has been a great opportunity to engage key representatives from parliamentary committees such as the Parliamentary Committee for Education, Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA), Parliamentary Committee for Children, Uganda Parliamentary Forum to end Child marriages and Teenage pregnancy (UPFCT), we hope these and other follow up discussions with the line ministries can materialize into positive actions for school reentry and retention of PGAMs.
Join us as we delve into the pressing issue of teenage pregnancy in Uganda’s schools and explore the collective efforts to create a more equitable and supportive educational environment for all young people.