Young Mothers and Pregnant Students Sit for PLE in Kasese

Summary:

• One young mother explained that she gave birth just a month ago but is determined to continue her education through senior four, with hopes of joining a nursing institution to serve her community.

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KASESE: In Kasese district, several primary seven candidates sat for the 2024 Primary Leaving Examinations while breastfeeding, while others took the exams while pregnant.

A total of 12,751 candidates registered for the exams in Kasese district.

At Kabatunda Primary School in Kabatunda – Kirabaho Town Council, Busongora County North, some candidates brought their babies as they tackled the Mathematics and English papers in the morning and afternoon sessions, respectively.

Eric Meso, the school’s head teacher, shared with our reporter that two primary seven candidates who recently gave birth were able to sit for their exams. He also noted that two other candidates at the school are currently expecting.

Despite the challenges, Meso reported that the young mothers managed to complete their exams, even though their babies occasionally cried. Relatives of the breastfeeding mothers acted as babysitters, allowing the mothers to tend to their children during breaks.

Meso also revealed that five candidates at Kabatunda Primary School missed wednesday exams. Similar cases of young mothers sitting the exams were reported at Kinyaminagha, Kibiri, and Kyamuduma primary schools.

One young mother explained that she gave birth just a month ago but is determined to continue her education through senior four, with hopes of joining a nursing institution to serve her community.

At Bisusa Model Primary School in Maliba Town Council, two girls attended the exams while pregnant, a development confirmed by the zonal leader, Mr. Charles Masereka Bahati, the head teacher at Nkaiga Primary School. Bahati added that another candidate from his school also attended while breastfeeding.

Additional cases of young mothers sitting the exams were reported at Ighanza Primary School in Mahango Sub-county, Izinga Primary School in Maliba Sub-county, and Bughendero Primary School in Buhuhira Sub-county.