Shocking reasons why girls drop out of school in Zimbabwe

Summary of story from IRINNews, November 7, 2011

Poverty, abuse and cultural practices are preventing one third of Zimbabwean girls from attending primary school and 67 percent from attending secondary school, denying them a basic education, according to a recent study which found alarming dropout rates for girls.

‘Sexual harassment and abuse by even school teachers and parents, cultural issues, lack of school fees, early marriage, parental commitments and early pregnancies are some of the contributing factors to the dropout by the girl child” in a study by Plan International, a nonprofit organisation that works to alleviate child poverty.

Makaitei Tevedza, matron of a shelter for pregnant girls, said: ”I have been helping poor and abandoned pregnant girls for more than 10 years, and it seems the number of victims seeking our support is increasing all the time.

“Most of the girls say they were impregnated by relatives, teachers or lovers, who then chased them away.”

According to the Plan International report, the long distances that children in rural areas have to travel to reach school, and the burden that girls face because they often have to assume the responsibilities of being head of the household after the death of their parents, are other factors contributing to the high dropout rate.