In the Upper East Region of Ghana, a significant number of young women are defying the odds to secure their futures. During the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), 84 pregnant girls and 46 breastfeeding mothers sat for their exams. This milestone marks a shift in how the education system supports girls who face the challenges of early parenthood.
This progress is the result of a specific Ghana Education Service (GES) policy designed to prevent teenage pregnancy and facilitate the re-entry of mothers into the classroom. For years, the system struggled to balance academic standards with the reality of teenage pregnancy. By removing the barriers to re-entry, the GES aims to ensure that a pregnancy doesn’t mean the end of a girl’s education.
Rita Mbama, the Upper East GES Gender Desk Officer, highlighted the scale of the achievement. She noted, “So the BECE that we wrote in 2025, we had 84 pregnant girls and then 46 lactating mothers writing the BECE. One will say that this is too high and I shouldn’t say it’s an achievement. It is not that we want the girls to get pregnant, but the fact that they still stayed in school and have written these exams and have completed school.” The support extends to older students as well, with 111 pregnant girls and 135 lactating mothers participating in the WASSCE.
The shift in policy addresses a difficult history where pregnancy often led to immediate expulsion. Rita Mbama explained that “Previously, if you became pregnant, you were dismissed outright,” which often forced girls into dangerous situations. Many resorted to crude abortions or married without a certificate, effectively ending their professional prospects.
While teenage pregnancy rates remain a concern, the focus has shifted toward protecting the fundamental right to education. By keeping these girls in school, the region is breaking a cycle of poverty and limited opportunity. The goal is to ensure that every young woman, regardless of her circumstances, has the chance to earn a diploma and build a stable life.
