In many African countries, schools accommodate adolescent mothers by providing special facilities, such as designated spaces for breastfeeding and flexible schedules to allow them to care for their children. However, in Tanzania, despite some policy changes, pregnant girls and young mothers continue to face systemic discrimination and barriers to education. On the International Day of Education, Human Rights Watch has called upon the Tanzanian government to take stronger legal and policy measures to protect the educational rights of these students and put an end to their exclusion from schools.
Systemic Exclusion Despite Policy Changes
Three years have passed since the Tanzanian government revoked a discriminatory school ban against pregnant students and adolescent mothers. However, the lack of clear legal and policy frameworks has resulted in continued challenges for these students. Schools, education officials, and teachers have not been given concrete guidelines on how to protect and promote the right to education for pregnant and parenting students. Furthermore, adequate support systems to help these girls remain in school have not been implemented.
“Tanzania’s decision in 2021 to overturn the harmful school ban was a crucial step in the right direction, signaling a commitment to rectifying years of discrimination and abuse against girls,” said Elin Martínez, senior children’s rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. “However, the government must move beyond policy announcements and take concrete action to ensure that pregnant and parenting girls have the support they need to stay in school.”
Persistent Barriers to Re-Enrollment
In November 2021, the Tanzanian government introduced Education Circular No. 2 of 2021, which allowed students who dropped out of school for various reasons, including pregnancy, to return. This was followed by the Ministry of Education’s 2022 publication of “Guidelines for Re-Entry of Students Who Dropped Out of Primary and Secondary Education for Various Reasons.” However, these policies contain provisions that contradict Tanzania’s human rights obligations and impose administrative obstacles for young mothers seeking to re-enroll.
One of the most concerning aspects of the 2022 guidelines is the stipulation that adolescent mothers must wait up to two years before returning to school. Additionally, girls who become pregnant for a second time are permanently barred from formal education. These restrictions continue to hinder the educational prospects of young mothers and reinforce a cycle of exclusion and discrimination.
Violations of Girls’ Educational Rights
In 2022, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which monitors African Union member states’ compliance with child rights treaties, determined that Tanzania had violated the right to education of pregnant and parenting girls. The committee’s findings were in response to a 2019 case filed by the Legal and Human Rights Centre and the Center for Reproductive Rights on behalf of Tanzanian girls.
Despite these findings, the Tanzanian government has not taken meaningful steps to adopt the committee’s recommendations. These include:
– Revising the Education Act to explicitly prohibit the expulsion of pregnant and married girls.
– Ending mandatory pregnancy testing in schools.
– Eliminating wedlock as a reason for expulsion under the Education (Expulsion and Exclusion of Pupils from Schools) Regulations No. 295 of 2002.
Research by multiple organizations, including Human Rights Watch, shows that imposing mandatory leave on adolescent mothers for extended periods increases the likelihood that they will drop out permanently. Once out of school, these girls face heightened risks of child marriage and other human rights abuses.
Ongoing Stigma and Discrimination
Despite policy changes, adolescent mothers in Tanzania continue to face social stigma when they return to school. Reports indicate that some school administrators and teachers actively discourage or marginalize returning students. Many educators lack awareness of ministerial instructions supporting re-enrollment, leading to inconsistent implementation of the policies. As a result, many young mothers are denied their right to education despite official policies permitting their return.
In October 2024, Tanzanian officials informed the African Committee that the government planned to review its Education Act by the end of 2025. However, human rights organizations have urged the government to accelerate this process. The African Committee has reiterated its demands for Tanzania to:
– Ensure that pregnant, parenting, and married girls can return to school without restrictions or delays.
– Remove the two-year waiting period for re-enrollment.
– Prohibit mandatory pregnancy testing in schools and health facilities.
Urgent Need for Policy and Legal Reforms
The Tanzanian government must adopt a national policy that provides clear, rights-based guidelines for managing adolescent pregnancies in schools. These policies should prioritize support rather than punishment, ensuring that young mothers receive the assistance they need to continue their education.
Furthermore, reforms to the Education Act should explicitly guarantee the right to education for pregnant and parenting students, remove discriminatory provisions that allow the expulsion of girls based on wedlock, and prohibit mandatory pregnancy testing in schools. These measures would align Tanzania’s educational policies with international human rights standards and best practices observed in other African nations.
“Tens of thousands of girls have suffered discrimination, stigma, and exclusion from schools in Tanzania,” said Martínez. “The government must act urgently to implement policies that protect the right to education for all students, regardless of their pregnancy or parenting status. Only by doing so can Tanzania truly uphold the right to education for all its young citizens.”
Conclusion
Tanzania has taken steps toward addressing the historical discrimination faced by pregnant and parenting girls, but significant challenges remain. Without clear legal protections and robust support mechanisms, these students will continue to face barriers that hinder their ability to complete their education. The government must move swiftly to eliminate discriminatory practices, enforce inclusive policies, and ensure that all girls—regardless of their circumstances—have access to education. Only through these reforms can Tanzania fulfill its commitment to the right to education for all.
