Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a report stating that the Tanzanian government is failing to adequately protect the educational rights of pregnant girls and adolescent mothers. According to HRW, Tanzania has not implemented sufficient legal and policy measures to curb the systemic exclusion these young women face in schools. The report highlights ongoing challenges related to stigma and discrimination, which persist despite recent improvements.
The Tanzanian government has taken steps to support students who have dropped out, particularly addressing adolescent mothers. However, HRW criticized the administrative barriers these guidelines create, such as allowing up to two years before young mothers can return to school. These delays add to the challenges the affected group faces, with many still unable to reintegrate into the educational system smoothly.
Between 2003 and 2011, an estimated 55,000 adolescent girls in Tanzania were expelled or forced to drop out due to pregnancy. The ACERWC ruled in 2022 that expelling pregnant and married students and imposing mandatory pregnancy testing were violations of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. In response to legal pressure, the Tanzanian Ministry of Education published guidelines in February 2022 for the reintegration of students who dropped out.
To address these issues, the ACERWC recommended expanding essential support services, eliminating mandatory pregnancy testing, and removing administrative obstacles that prevent re-enrollment. This includes lifting the two-year limit for re-entry and abolishing expulsion based on marital status. For more details on these ongoing efforts and challenges, you can read the full article at JURIST.