An ethical assessment of the Zambian school re-entry policy with respect to teenage pregnancy: a case study of selected secondary schools in Lusaka
Date
2017
Authors
Kabwe, Alfred
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
The study investigated, from the ethical point of view, if the school re-entry policy in
Zambia is ethically justified, using six purposively selected secondary schools in Lusaka.
The objectives of the study were to investigate the current perceptions about the causes of
teenage pregnancies among school going girls; to investigate the current perceptions about
the effects of the school re-entry policy; to investigate the current attitudes to teenage
pregnancies, and finally to make an ethical evaluation of the findings. A case study design
was used involving qualitative methodology with an ethical component. The target
population for the study comprised pupils, teachers, parents and representatives from
Lusaka District Education Board Secretary‟s office (DEBS) and from Forum for African
Women Educationists of Zambia (FAWEZA). The total sample was 78 respondents. It was
comprised of 22 teenage mothers, 30 other pupils, 12 teachers, 12 parents of teenage
mothers, 1 representative from Lusaka DEBS and 1 representative from FAWEZA.
The methods used to collect primary data were focus group discussions, observations, indepth
interviews and questionnaires. Data from teenage mothers and other pupils were
obtained through questionnaires and six focus group discussions. Data from teachers,
parents and representatives from Lusaka DEBS and FAWEZA were obtained by using indepth
interviews. Data collected was then analysed by coding and manually grouping the
emerging themes. Interpretations and conclusions were then made from the data. The
significance of this study is that it would contribute to the controversy surrounding the
girls‟ school re-entry policy by subjecting it to an ethical assessment.
The findings of the study revealed that Zambia has a relatively flexible school re-entry
policy which allows pregnant girls to continue with their education. People‟s views about
the school re-entry policy have changed since 2010 and their attitudes are becoming more
favourable to the school re-entry policy. Meanwhile, the incidence of teenage pregnancy
among school girls in Zambia remains high. Perceived causes of teenage pregnancies are
peer pressure, curiosity, poverty, lack of self discipline and lack of parental guidance.
Perceptions of the positive effects of the school re-entry policy are primarily that teenage
mothers are enabled to gain an education and contribute to national development.
Perceptions of the negative effects of the school re-entry policy are primarily that other
girls might emulate the bad example of girls that get pregnant in school and become
pregnant too, leading to high numbers of pregnancies in schools. Perceptions of the
negative effects of the expulsion policy are primarily that there would be an increase in
ignorance and illiteracy which would retard national development.
Utilitarian ethical theory justified the school re-entry policy in Zambia in that the overall
consequences of the re-entry policy on all affected were seen to be better than the
consequences of expulsion. Rights theory justified the human right of pregnant girls to
education notwithstanding the need to protect the rights of others. The principle of the
lesser evil led to the conclusion that the negative effects of the re-entry policy are less than
the negative effects of the expulsion policy. Hence, the overall ethical evaluation
concluded that, despite disadvantages, the school re-entry policy is currently justified.
Virtue ethics poses a challenge to both parents and teachers to serve as role models to the
girls. Recommendations are made to encourage schools to form peer educator groups and
to encourage the government to ensure that Comprehensive Sexuality Education is
effectively implemented in schools. Parents/teacher associations are also encouraged to
spearhead the moral education of pupils in order to reduce teenage pregnancies.
Description
Keywords
Re-entry policy--teenage pregnancy--Zambia