By Amin Kef Sesay
In an open letter written by, Asmaa James, the Founder of a non-profit organization and initiative driven by community level interventions aimed at providing access to adolescent sexual reproductive health and rights education, Girls Plus, and addressed to the Minister of Basic Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), Dr Monina Sengeh, which calls for solidarity for girls’ she highlighted that since March 2020, the Government through his Ministry overturned the ban on pregnant girls attending school in Sierra Leone.
According to her that move in turn led to the development of two new policies, the Radical Inclusion Policy and the Comprehensive Safety Policy, for all children in the education system maintaining that the Radical Inclusion Policy allows girls who are pregnant to attend school for as long as they safely can and return after delivery.
Asmaa pointed out that in the same year, over 60 pregnant girls took national public exams which inspired her to follow up on those girls. She continued informing the Minister that in October that year, her organization, Girls Plus in partnership with the MBSSE and with support from Plan International Sierra Leone, launched the “Another Chance Campaign”.
She disclosed that the project specifically targeted 25 girls from 6 districts across the country that have fallen pregnant to establish a support system that will facilitate and increase their chances of returning to school after childbirth. According to her, they have been monitoring those girls throughout their pregnancies and providing them with support.
Asmaa stated that she is pleased to report to the Minister that all the girls in Mano Dasse in Moyamba District, have safely delivered their babies and have continued their schooling.
She also highlighted that last week, the Country Director of Plan, Evariste Sindayigaya, and his team, together with Girls Plus, visited the girls in Manor Dasse, so that the Director can hear first-hand about the challenges the girls face as they return to school.
Access to family planning and a safe place for their children, while they are in school, were amongst the challenges they reported, according to Asmaa.
The Founder of Girls Plus underscored that they recognize that they cannot do the work alone maintaining that as a society, those girls need the support of all.
She called on more individuals and groups who are motivated to create an inclusive learning system for pregnant girls.
She expressed gratitude to Plan International Sierra Leone thanking them for supporting the project and for their willingness to continue to the next phase of the project. To the 25 girls in Manor Dasse, she said they celebrate their resilience and determination to continue their education.
She also extended gratitude to the Minister, Dr. David Sengeh, for his leadership and drive to promote girls’ education, ensure equal access to all and for challenging them to think radical.
