GOVERNMENT says there is need for the Primary and Secondary Education ministry to ramp up sex education in schools in a bid to fight against underage pregnancies.
Speaking at the launch of the State of the World Population Report 2023 in Harare yesterday, Women Affairs ministry permanent secretary Moses Mhike said the country continued to record alarming cases of underage pregnancies.
“We have a problem and we have to take the whole government and society approach to deal with that. We are working with the Primary and Secondary Education ministry to amplify the issue of sex education in schools so that they are taught about these issues from an early stage,” he said.
Mhike added that young boys have to be included in programmes meant to enlighten girls on issues of sexuality.
“Also, if we don’t involve the community leaders, we cannot go far because it is in the communities where these issues are coming from. We have to act and say enough is enough. We are denying these youngsters the future,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, United Nations Population Fund deputy country representative Gulnara Kadyrykulova said sex education was key.
“In countries experiencing rapid population growth, women’s empowerment through education and family planning can bring enormous benefits by way of human capital and inclusive economic growth,” Kadyrykulova said.
According to a Zimbabwe National Statistical Agency report released early this year, more than 700 girls aged between 10 and 14 years gave birth in 2022.
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At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, government said nearly 5 000 teenage girls fell pregnant in 2021.
In August 2020, government amended the Education Act to prohibit schools from expelling pregnant girls.
