Call to Lift Ban on Education for Pregnant Tanzania Teens

Equality Now, a women's rights organisation with global and regional offices, as well as other rights groups in Tanzania, jointly filed a case at the African Court in Arusha on November 19, calling for the right of pregnant teenagers, as well as those whom had already given birth, to return to school to complete their education. "Preventing pregnant girls and adolescent mothers from attending public school, denies them access to education and keeps many trapped in a cycle of poverty," Equality Now Africa-region Director Faiza Mohamed said. Tanzania's policy of expelling pregnant girls from primary and secondary school dates back to 1961, but the practice has escalated in the past five years because of public endorsement by senior government officials, the organisations said.