A recent report by the Controller and Auditor General of Tanzania revealed that a staggering 42,954 schoolgirls dropped out of school between July 2021 and June 2022 due to pregnancy. The report, which was tabled in parliament in Dodoma, the capital city, highlights that out of the total, 23,009 were from secondary schools and 19,945 were from primary schools in Tanzania.
The report further reveals that the impregnated schoolgirls accounted for 28% of the 82,236 girls who were scheduled to complete their ordinary-level education in 2021. These schoolgirls hailed from 19 local government authorities across the country, with the highest numbers reported in Kinondoni municipality in the Dar es Salaam region, where 4,652 girls were affected.
Other districts heavily impacted were Newala district council in the Mtwara region with 3,783 girls, and Misungwi district council in the Mwanza region with 2,570 girls.
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In addition, the report highlighted that Kwimba district council in the Mwanza region had the highest number of impregnated schoolgirls in primary schools during the period under review, with a total of 9,045 girls affected. Uvinza district council in the Kigoma region followed with 2,172 girls.
This concerning trend of schoolgirls dropping out due to pregnancy in Tanzania underscores the need for urgent attention and comprehensive measures to address this issue and ensure that girls are able to complete their education and fulfill their potential.
