By ZACHERY PER
PREGNANT school girls should be allowed to return to school after giving birth because education is very important for future survival.
Okiyufa Primary School successively argued the point at the first inter-school debate at the Young Christian Hall in Goroka last Friday.
Not only did the Okiyufa team win the debate, they also convinced several members of the audience.
Hewe Primary School head teacher Alphonse Pagau said a good education was the passport to a good future.
“A girl will only be able to support her child if she is able to find employment,” he told The National.
“If girls at some of the universities are allowed to return to continue their education after giving birth, then there is no reason why primary and secondary school female students should be stopped from returning to school after giving birth.”
Another teacher, John Sine, said it was the democratic right of all girls to have access to education.
He said that sometimes it could be the fault of a girl’s parents that she got pregnant.
“They (the parents) might not have provided her with enough information about sex and marriage.
“Pregnant school girls have the right to education and they should be allowed to continue their education after giving birth,” he said.