By Alex Gahima
The Head teacher of Nyamirembe Secondary School in Nyanamo Town Council, Kisoro district has been summoned by the Office of the RDC after he allegedly sent away three female students from the School after they got pregnant.
The students were given letters to take to their parents advising them to stay home until they have delivered their babies.
The affected students include a Senior One Student and two others in Senior Three.
Nyamirembe Head Teacher Richard Tabura Tatwendera confirmed the development.
Tabura said he has been summoned to meet with the Kisoro Deputy RDC Robert Tukamuhebwa and the District Inspector of Schools Mbonyebyombi Emmanuel on Monday 24th April 2023 to further explain his actions.
According to Tabura, the School carried out a routine medical test on the students, checking for cases of Pregnancy as well as Sexually transmitted Diseases so that the students can be assisted accordingly.
“It is important to check the students especially when they have been away from school on holidays because they interact with many people, Tabura explained.
In the month of March, two medical workers attached to Iremera HC III were contacted to conduct the medical tests.
The first health worker whose identity was not readily established identified one Student in Senior four who was pregnant.
The school administration advised that she go back home to her parents to manage her pregnancy and return to School to sit for her Senior Four exams in October, should she still desire to further her education.
“She was a new student transferring from St. Joseph, Rubuguri. After the medical test was conducted, the student went home and within two weeks, she gave birth”, Tabura said.
Jacinta Ingabire, the second medical worker and nurse at Iremera HC III says she conducted the screening of all the girls at the school where she discovered three pregnant students.
One Student in Senior one and two others in senior three.
“The Senior one Student’s pregnancy was about 6 months while one student in senior three was at 5 months and half while the other at 2 months”, Ingabire explained.
Several parents, including the Chairperson of Parent Teachers Association (PTA) of Nyamirembe Secondary School Cosam Sabiti reported the matter to the Office of the District Probation officer seeking immediate intervention.
District Inspector of Schools Emmanuel Mbonyebyombi said the education department asked Mr. Tabura to submit a written report because some people were spreading misinformation that the number of girls chased away from the school were six.
Kisoro Deputy RDC Robert Tukamuhebwa said further investigations are going to be carried out to ensure that the quality of education for the affected students is not interrupted further.
Is there a Case against Tabura and his administration?
Prior to the reopening of the new school term on January 10, 2023, the government ordered schools to admit pregnant and breastfeeding girls.
This was in line with the December 2020 revised guidelines for preventing and managing teenage pregnancies in schools following a two-year Covid-19 induced lockdown.
The guidelines provided directions to schools on tackling stigma, discrimination, and violence against expectant learners.
Some clerics, especially from the Church of Uganda, vowed not to allow pregnant or breastfeeding girls in Church-founded schools despite the Government directive.
The Education minister Janet Kataaha Museveni recently said the government agreed with teachers to allow girls who get pregnant to resume school a year after giving birth.
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