Teenage pregnancy, abortion rock basic school at Biriwa

The only public basic school at Biriwa, a fishing community in the Mfantseman municipality of the Central Region, has been hit by what could be described as mass teenage pregnancy and abortion.

According to authorities of the Biriwa Methodist Junior High School, at least 10 of their female pupils get pregnant every academic year. The figure, the school says, excludes unnoticed pregnancies which are aborted.

A total of 11 teenage pregnancies were recorded at the school in the 2012/2013 academic year; 14 cases in the 2013/2014 while 10 cases were recorded in the 2014/2015 academic year.

"Currently, although the academic year has not come to an end yet, we have already recorded three cases," said Mr Francis Aduafo, Headmaster of the school that was established 47 years ago.

Mr. Aduafo who gave the statistics at the school's 47th Anniversary and 3rd Speech and Giving Day at School Thursday noted the trend has become "headache for all staff" and stakeholders, noting that the past ten years has been the worse years.

Authorities of the school have identified parental neglect and youth promiscuity as the main cause of the alarming rate of teenage pregnancy in the school, the headmaster said, and urged all stakeholders to help reverse the trend.

"It's a fact that the more females are engaged in education, the less likely they will be exposed to early sexual activities that could lead to teenage pregnancy, she noted.

Aquanias Quansah, Member of Parliament for the area, who was not happy about the development in the school urged teachers to be watchful in order to identify early signs that would be shown by female pupils which could lead them astray.

He said "teachers see the early signs in the children than their parents. If you know a little girl who is trying to go wayward please do all you can to correct that child?

Ghana's Most Beautiful Winner, Esi, who is championing a campaign against teenage pregnancy in the Central region described the development as disturbing and unfortunate adding "this is not a record that we should be boasting of. It's bad, it's disgraceful, and it’s shameful."

"When I heard the statistics the headmaster gave, I couldn't believe my eyes" she said and pleaded with parents to be responsible in raising their children so they grow to be responsible to take care of them.

She also urged the pupils to move away from acts that could ruin their future, and encouraged the pupils to also heed to the advice of their parents and teachers.

Meanwhile the Biriwa Methodist JHS is faced with a number of challenges including what the authorities say is the payment of exorbitant water and electricity bills, dilapidated classrooms, poor ventilation in most classrooms and lack of staff common-room.