Harare - A Zimbabwean child, aged between 12 and 13, went into labour while she was writing examinations at school and was taken home to her village where she gave birth, according to local media reports.
She then went to hospital where she finished writing her paper, accompanied by two invigilators to ensure she did not cheat.
The girl, who has not been named, was a grade seven pupil at Murongwe Primary School in central Zimbabwe and was sitting in an English examination when she went into labour, shocking fellow pupils who did not know their class mate was pregnant.
The incident is reported in Friday's Chronicle Newspaper, the main daily in second city Bulawayo. Midlands Provincial Education Director Agnes Gudo confirmed the dramatic incident.
She said she was still waiting for a formal report. “I will be able to furnish you with more information once I receive a full report,” she said.
A relative to the minor, who spoke to the Chronicle on condition of anonymity, said the girl, who had concealed the pregnancy, started experiencing labour pains while writing the examination.
The relative said the girl concluded her examinations from a clinic bed under the watchful eyes of the two female teachers.
“She was first taken home where she delivered before being taken to hospital. She had to finish her examination on her hospital bed.”
Local MP Makhosini Hlongwane said sexual activity by juveniles caused so many unwanted pregnancies.
“It is an unfortunate situation that a grade seven pupil was impregnated and gave birth while writing national examinations,” he said.
“Government policy is to encourage the girl child to complete education and desist from indulging in sexual activities at an early age.
This has ramifications on their education trajectory. If we look deeper, the child could have been sexually abused by an adult, which itself becomes a rape case.”
African News Agency