Allow pregnant girls to complete school, official

Education Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Mumina Bonaya has warned parents in pastoralist counties against subjecting their daughters to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and early marriages.

Speaking at Lebarsherik Secondary in Oldonyiro, Isiolo County, the CAS ordered chiefs and their assistants to arrest the perpetrators and parents abetting the vice, and track girls who could have dropped out of school, for readmission.

Ms Mumina blamed early pregnancies and FGM on growing number of girls dropping out of school to get married. This, she said, affected the government’s 100 per cent transition policy.

“Parents have the responsibility to ensure their girls are in school and proceed to colleges and universities,” said Ms Mumina.

She asked parents not to withdraw expectant girls from school, but allow them to study until they near delivery, then resume after giving birth.
“Chiefs must arrest those carrying out the vice and track girls who have dropped out from school so that they are readmitted.”

Nomadic lifestyle

She lamented that many boys from the region were missing secondary school to graze animals, and asked parents to enroll them in low-cost boarding schools.

This, she said, will ensure students remain in school even where their families migrate to other areas in search of pastures.

Ms Mumina reiterated government’s commitment towards ensuring girls remain in school by providing sanitary pads and the school feeding program.

Isiolo County Director of Education Hussein Koriyow, emphasised on the need for parents to embrace education to minimise the high levels of illiteracy.

The official warned principals at local secondary schools against sending students home for school fees, stressing that parents who failed to take their children to school risked legal action.

“Chiefs must assist us in ensuring that children who could still be stuck at home for whichever reasons rejoin school,” said Mr Koriyow.