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Loveness Bepete Chronicle Reporter—
A SCHOOL girl who gave birth in a toilet last week is free to go back to school, the Provincial Education Director Dan Moyo said yesterday. The education ministry is ready to assist in finding a new school for the Sobukhazi High School Form 3 pupil – who left hospital with her baby yesterday – so that she is not stigmatised at her previous school, he added.

“She can go back to school after she fully breastfeeds her baby. The good thing is that our laws and constitution allow her to go back without any complications,” said Moyo.

“When she has fully breastfed the baby, she can tell us and we’ll organise that she goes to a new school where she’ll be free from trauma.”
Miraculously, the 17-year-old pupil, who is orphaned, did not face any complications during the delivery.
The baby weighed 2,7kgs at birth.

Her grandmother, who identified herself only as MaMsipa, told Chronicle that she was yet to sit down with the teenager to find out who impregnated her as she was only discharged from Mpilo Central Hospital yesterday.

The pupil was taken to hospital on Wednesday after delivering in the school’s toilets.
Teachers and her aunt said in separate interviews that they had suspected that she was pregnant, but she had dismissed their suspicions. Her teachers recalled that she always wore a jersey – even when it was hot – to conceal her pregnancy.

MaMsipa said: “I’m  happy my granddaughter is strong and fit and didn’t face any difficulties especially looking at her age, she’s still young. The baby is breastfeeding and healthy.”