Expose pregnant B.E.C.E candidates

The Prestea Huni- Valley District Coordinator in charge of Girl Child Education, Mrs. Pearl Arkoh Alibanwe, has urged the media to continue exposing JHS students who get impregnated before sitting for their Basic Education Certificate  Examination.  

Mrs. Alibanwe believes the continuous reportage by the media on such cases will effect changes in the girls and help to curb this disturbing situation.

Ghana for some years now has been recording increasing numbers of pregnancy among the female candidates during B.E.C.E exams - whiles efforts taken by authorities to curb the situation has not been enough. It is in view of this that this advice has been given as part of the remedies to fight this situation.

This year’s B.E.C.E was no exception as reports all over the country revealed that several female candidates, with some under eighteen (18) years were reported to be pregnant and some others being nursing mothers.

Speaking to a Bogoso based radio station, Mrs. Alibanwe said, it seems the persistent advise her outfit and other colleagues have been given the girls in her district fall on deaf ears.

“I personally led a crusade throughout some Senior and Junior High Schools to advise the girls in particular as to what early pregnancy could bring them and how the society will see them, but it seems they never paid heed to me”, she said.

The Girl Child Education Coordinator said upon all her crusade which she was very optimistic that the Prestea Huni-Valley District in the Western Region, which is under her care, will not record any pregnancy case, the District recorded nine (9) pregnancy cases among this year's B.E.C.E. candidates.

When asked whether or not such media reports will not affect the morale of such candidates, Mrs. Alibanwe said it may, but to a large extent inform the larger society to desist from engaging in premarital sex which may lead to pregnancy before writing their B.E.C.E exams.

“Everything which is not good in a society should be exposed, so that parents would also know how to talk to their wards to refrain from premarital sex.” She added that there is time for everything, but getting pregnant between the ages of 14 and 17 is premature and may bring about many complications that come along with pregnancy at that level.

Commenting on the cause of these early pregnancies, Mrs. Alibanwe made it clear that, technology has over the years been the major contributing factor. She explained that the advent of technology has made pornographic materials now easily accessible to teenagers influencing them to indulge in premarital sex. 

She said, though the various religious bodies, traditional authorities and other stakeholders are doing their best to curb the situation, the question that should be asked is whether the unmarried youth in general are ready to listen to this advice.

She said the media is a strong force that can help in effecting changes in our society, and urged it to continue exposing the on-ending pregnancy cases among B.E.C.E candidates in the country.

Parents were also advised to accept the unfortunate situation where their female children get impregnated and take care of them till they deliver after which they can go back to school.