Development stakeholders in Likudzi Ward in Ntcheu South have urged over 117 Standard Eight girls who got pregnant during the Covid-19 induced holidays not to get married.
Speaking at Senzani last Friday when stakeholders interfaced with 25 out of 117 girls who are pregnant in the ward, councillor Godfrey Chinkhota said no parent should allow any of the girls to enter into marriage.
“With financial support from N’zatonse Project, we are meeting Standard Eight girls who got pregnant during the Covid-19 holidays and are willing to sit for the national examinations.
“We have over 117 girls who need to be encouraged to go sit for the examinations but we managed to meet 25 only because of financial constraints. We need funding to enable us reach out to the remaining 92 girls,” Chinkhota said.
He said the girls need moral and social support and warned parents not to consent to marriage.
Fannie Kamowa (not real name), one of the girls said she would take up the opportunity to write the exams and do better so that she is selected to secondary school.
Group Village Headman Senzani warned village headmen who are in the forefront encouraging children to get married that he will personally strip them of their chieftainship if found.
Gibron Duncan, Senzani primary education advisor (PEA) said government is allowing all girls who are pregnant to write exams if they fulfilled all the requirements.
“The Standard Eight examinations timetable is out and we urge all pregnant girls to sit for the exams from September 30 to October 2,” Duncan said.
