World Bank welcomes Tanzania pregnant pupil ban

The World Bank has welcomed the decision by Tanzania to remove a nearly two-decade-long ban on pregnant students from attending school.

The organisation says the move will remove barriers to access of education.

“This important decision underscores the country’s commitment to support girls and young women and improve their chances at receiving a better education,” a statement from the World Bank says.

The Swedish embassy in Tanzania has also praised the decision terming it is an “inspiration in the region for young mothers’ rights to education”.

The ban was strongly enforced by former President John Magufuli who died in March this year.

The decision to remove the ban was announced on Wednesday by Education Minister Joyce Ndalichako.

Education and women rights campaigners have also welcomed the move but say the new directive needs to be enacted into law for it to be successfully implemented.

Statistics indicate that, more than 120,000 girls drop out of school every year in Tanzania, 6,500 of them due to pregnancies.