Even as the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results were being released, a group of young people have called upon the government to initiate sex education to prevent cases of teenage pregnancies as witnessed this year.
The over 30 young people under the Centre for the Study of Adolescence (CSA) themed Young Champions of human Sexuality of Education said that while rampant teenage pregnancies have been reported all over, young people are yet to be given an opportunity to speak on how to solve the problem. The group brings together young people in and out of school.
“The conversation around young people, sexuality education, teen pregnancies has been ongoing especially during and after the just concluded KCPE and KCSE examinations. The media reported extensively on the appalling numbers of teenage pregnancies and various stakeholders have given their views on the issue. However, the voice and opinion of the young people on the matter and how to approach the issue is missing,” said Martha Kombe of the Youth Advisory Council (YAC).
They pointed out that teenage pregnancies are increasing at an alarming rate and this presents a significant challenge to young people especially girls’ right to education and sustainable development.
Angela Atieno of YAC stated, “Teen pregnancy aggravates development issues for Kenya as it is a major barrier to achieving progress in sexual and reproductive health in the country.”
Statistics from UNFPA indicate that between June 2016 and July 2017, about 387,397 adolescent girls in Kenya aged 10-19 got pregnant.
The statement by the young people further read: “During the just concluded KCSE and KCPE 2018, we watched in shock the alarming news of over 14,000 teenage girls sitting their national exams while heavily pregnant or immediately after delivery. 13,624 pregnancies were recorded among girls aged 10-19 years in Kilifi County alone. This is simply unacceptable, we are letting our young people down.”
The young people further called upon the government to listen to young people’s views on how the problem can be solved.
“These high rates of unplanned pregnancies can be reduced by equipping our children with age-appropriate and need appropriate sexual and reproductive health education. Our adolescent girls, young sisters and daughters, need information to be able to make safe, healthy amd informed sexual choices,” stated Brian Otieno of Alfajiri.
The group further said that evidence from UNESCO shows that human sexuality education programmes in 29 developing countries, have positive outcomes that include; delayed initiation of sexual debut; decreased number of sexual partners; use of protection for those who are already sexually active and decreased sexual risk-taking.
The group also called on government to partner with young people, civil society organisations and religious organisations together with parents to implement sexual reproductive health education fully.