By Lawrence Mucunguzi.
IBANDA
A 15-year-old primary seven pupil who had been studying during her pregnancy, went into labour shortly before the exams were set to begin on Monday at Sigirira Primary School in the Kikyenkye sub-county of Ibanda district.
Primary Leaving Examinations started Monday morning across the country with candidates sitting for the Mathematics paper.
Alex Arinaitwe, the school headteacher says the girl who kept at school since the re-opening woke up with no sign of labor, and the school had hoped that she would successfully sit for the papers.
Arinaitwe said they allowed the girl at school following an order from the government authorities that pregnant pupils and students be allowed to proceed with education.
The girl, whose name has been withheld to protect her since she is a minor, was rushed to a homestead, where she gave birth before being ferried to a Clinic nearby. Arinaitwe added that the pupil delivered normally and successfully with no serious complications.
The girl and the baby boy are in stable condition
Arinaitwe said they were not expecting the girl to deliver on Monday during exams; antenatal tests indicated that the pupil would deliver in May.
The girl told the Newvision that “I started having stomach pains on Monday night but didn’t know I was going to give birth”.
“I worked up the courage to do the exam because I had made enough preparations for it and am expecting good results.” She added.
Peter Nsimiire, the Ibanda District Inspector of Schools says the girl who was in good condition after birth was given a special room and left to proceed with her first paper.
The girl who is a total orphan was allegedly defiled by a male friend last year, who has since been on the run. The police are still hunting for him, said one of the relatives who asked his name to be kept confidential.
Jacinta Kyokusiima, an aunt to the girl who is also her guardian said “ We decided to send her back to school to complete her year and school administration did not have a problem with it”. She said.
Kyokusiima that the suspect defiler, escaped after realizing that police were looking for him to answer defilement allegations.
Jovrine Kaliisa Kyomukama, the Ibanda woman Member of Parliament, said while it is true that everyone has struggled with the fallout of this global pandemic, it has had more serious consequences on the adolescent girls who have been among the most adversely affected.
“Without the support system of teachers and school administrators, many girls are left vulnerable to teenage pregnancy, early childhood marriage and gender-based violence, among other devastating effects of Covid-19. They therefore need to be comforted and accepted.” She said.
