DOZENS of pupils have gone on maternity leave at Kaoma High School, in a district that has also recorded a staggering 61 percent class drop-out rate.
The school had 30 girls in the family way in the first term of this year compelling them to abandon school and return home.
School head-teacher Jonathan Mukenge, who confirmed the gloomy situation, said 10 pupils who had come from basic schools have proceeded on maternity shortly after starting their grade 10 classes.
This indicates that they were pregnant before joining Kaoma High.
Mr Mukenge, who made the disclosure during a consultative stakeholders’ meeting for the Kaoma District Education Board on Wednesday, said of the 30 pupils, 12 are day scholars while the other eight were boarders.
He called for the involvement of all stakeholders to curb the problem, which has become rife at the institution.
And Kaoma district recorded a 61 percent school drop-out rate for 2013, which has been attributed to poverty, long distances to schools and low staffing levels, among other factors.
Kaoma district commissioner Joster Manjolo said the provision of quality education can only be achieved through strong partnerships between the district education board (DEB) and other stakeholders.
Mr Manjolo said the involvement of stakeholders in improving education is a good initiative which will stimulate a spirit of commitment among all interested parties.
He was speaking in a speech read for him by Kaoma district AIDS coordinating advisor Jonathan Mungandi during the stakeholders’ consultative meeting.
Mr Manjolo regretted that the district still registers poor learner performance, low attendance rates and has low reading levels coupled with high drop-outs, resulting from various factors, including early pregnancies.
He urged participants to streamline the Patriotic Front’s manifesto in all government programmes and activities that they implement.
Kaoma education board secretary Sendoi Mutumba implored stakeholders to investigate the cause of the problem.
Nkeyema district education board secretary Florence Hikaumba, who was the co-convener of the meeting, urged parents to take an active role in the input and output of education for their children.
Mrs Hikaumba said parents should realise the value of education for them to see the fruits of their children having gone to school.
She also urged members of Parents and Teachers’ Associations in schools not to over-stay in their offices but instead transfer skills and innovations to other people for the purpose of continuation.