Fifteen-year-old Didja Ajasi, a Standard seven learner at Nangapoche Primary School in Traditional Authority Katuli in Mangochi is back at school after giving birth to her child and spending over a year in marriage.
19-year-old Eliza Patrick, a form 2 leaner at Mbirira Community day secondary school in Salima, Traditional authority Mwanza is back in school after spending 2 years in marriage. At the age of 17 and while in standard 8, Eliza entered into marriage with a man 4 years older her age. It was peer pressure that got her into marriage.
At 17 years old, Elizabeth was already pregnant. Besides the stiffer law’s T/A Kachindamoto of Dedza had in places, the pressure of her friends to have a sexual relationship was overpowering.
The importance of teaching Comprehensive Sexuality Education for boys has been recognized with increasing strength. Across the country, youths especially boys are agitating in increasing numbers for access to Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) as well as sexual reproductive health rights.
From the traditional authority Kachindamoto in dedza hails Mercy Black. At 30, one would think their future is over and have to resign from life. Not for mercy, after spending 8 years in Marriage and 3 kids, she decided to go back to school. She attends an open day school at Mtakataka secondary school.
Gogo Chalo Chiseka of Chiseka said it was heart-rending that the youths, who form a big chunk of the country’s population, were getting destroyed by drugs and alcohol.