4 November 2009
Kibaale — Another pupil on Tuesday gave birth during the Primary Leaving Exams.
Annette Asaba, an 18-year-old girl from Kabasara Primary School in Kibaale District, was in the middle of her mathematics exam when her labor pains started.
On Monday, Fiona Bbale, a pupil of Kiryandongo BCS Primary School in Masindi, also gave birth to a baby girl during the exams.
Mr Vicente Ahimbisibwe, the invigilator monitoring exams at the school, says Annette raised her hand and asked to be excused from the exam room. She was then rushed home, where she gave birth to a baby boy.
The headmaster of the school, Mr Leonard Birigwa, says that although Annette was weak, she returned to school in the afternoon and sat for the science exam. The exams ended yesterday.
Mr Birigwa says the incident brought to the fore some of the glaring problems with the education system, particularly in rural areas.
He explains that many of the schools, his included, have few female teachers and so there is no one to counsel girls or to assess the unique complications related to their health.
Mr Birigwa says he didn't know how far along Annette Asaba's pregnancy was and so they couldn't prepare adequately for an emergency.
The chairman of the school management committee, John Kusaba, has asked the Kibaale District Education department to provide the school with a deputy headmistress who would coordinate problems like these.
The District Education Officer, John Kyaboona, had no comment on the incident.
Annette and her baby are reportedly recuperating well at home.
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