Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has signed a law barring government schools from excluding girls, who fall pregnant, from attending lessons.
Teachers are also no longer allowed to use cane on pupils, under amendments to the Education Act, which became law on Saturday.
The new law also stipulates that no pupil shall be excluded from school for non-payment of school fees.
Prior to the amendments of the law, school authorities could expel a girl for falling pregnant but spare the boy responsible for the same pregnancy, which was seen as discriminatory against the girl-child.
The educationists welcomed the amendments as progressive.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Cain Mathema, said he was excited that the President had signed the new law.
“The President has just signed the law and we will fully enforce the provisions for the furtherance of education in the country.
“We believe the Act is a progressive legislation,’’ he said.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta)’s Chief Executive Officer, Sifiso Ndlovu, said they fully supported the provisions of the Act as it was consistent with modern society.
He said corporal punishment engendered a violent society and it was refreshing that it was removed while the outlawing of the exclusion of pregnant pupils helped in the furtherance of the rights of the girl-child.
