By Steven Enatu.
At Soroti Senior Secondary School, two young mothers are skillfully managing the dual responsibilities of motherhood and education.
With their infants just one and two weeks old, the school allows them to breastfeed during exams, with the babies cared for in the school’s sick bay.
This arrangement ensures that the mothers can meet their children’s needs while participating in their assessments.
William Okeriau Oluka, the headteacher and chairperson of the Association of Secondary School Headteachers Union for Teso, noted that when a child cries, mothers can step out to breastfeed without penalty.
However, he emphasized that no extra exam time is granted, as breastfeeding is not considered a disability. Soroti SS has a total 860 students siting for UCE exams under the New curriculum and 147 students under old new curriculum while five are totally missing.
In related efforts, Women and Girls Rights Advocacy Uganda (WAGRAU) in Serere is providing support to young mothers during examinations. Deborah Akello, Executive Director of WAGRAU, stated, “We encourage school authorities and parents to reach out to pregnant students or new mothers who may need assistance, including emergency transportation, counseling, babysitting, and feeding services. It’s crucial to ensure that these young mothers can continue their education without additional burdens.”
The organization can be reached out on 0771 674935.
