KUPPET wants special schools for teenage mothers as teen pregnancies surge -SG Mr Akelo Misori

KUPPET Secretary-general Akelo Misori. FILE

The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has asked the state to plan for the establishment of special schools for teenage mothers.


Secretary-general Akelo Misori said the ministry should also put up rescue centres for teenage mothers.


“The special schools should be mainstreamed to cater for young mothers who experience challenges whenever they resume studies in regular schools,” he said.


This comes at a height of increased teenage pregnancy cases among schoolgoing children.


Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, 20,828 girls aged between 10 and 14 have fallen pregnant, according to report by National Council on Population and Development.


The report also shows 24,106 girls between 15- 19 are either pregnant or mothers already.

Machakos County recorded the highest cases of 4,000 teenage pregnancies, Nakuru had 1,748, Kajiado 1,523, Kericho 1,006, Homa Bay 957 and Garissa 901.


Currently, the only rescue centres are in areas where female genital mutilation is rife or in marginal counties.


Mr Misori said over the years the society has discriminated against teenage mothers who often face stigma by their fellow students.


He said establishing such schools for the teenage mothers should not be misinterpreted to mean they are being separated from other students but to encourage them to continue being in school.