Call for Govt to Declare Teenage Pregnancy Unlawful

In recent years, Namibia has made commendable progress in developing and implementing policies to address the challenge of teenage pregnancy.

The Education Sector Policy on the Prevention and Management of Learner Pregnancy was adopted to safeguard pupils, enable them to continue their education uninterrupted, and to mitigate the social, health, and economic consequences of early childbearing.

The purpose of this policy is threefold: to reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy, to ensure that pupils who fall pregnant are able to continue their education, and to mobilise schools, communities, and families to support young people in making informed sexual and reproductive health choices.

As a life skills teacher and an adviser to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Namibia on sexual and reproductive health, I fully endorse the intent of this policy.

The life skills syllabus in our schools is comprehensive – it addresses reproductive health, contraception, relationships, consent, the risks of early sexual activity, and the emotional consequences of teenage pregnancy.

However, awareness alone is not enough. Many pupils know about contraceptive methods, yet ignorance and exploitation remain widespread. A growing number of girls are impregnated by older men who deliberately take advantage of their innocence and lack of experience.

These are often cases of coerced, transactional, or exploitative sexual relationships where power imbalances are severe.

According to recent reports, Namibia’s teenage pregnancy rate stands at about 19% among girls aged 15 to 19.

Between 2020 and 2024, 9 077 pregnancies were recorded in the Ohangwena region alone, with 283 of these girls under the age of 14.

In the Zambezi region, 147 teenage pregnancies were reported in one school term this year. These are not mere statistics; they represent broken dreams and interrupted destinies.

These figures are alarming and demand urgent, decisive action.

While the current policy provides a solid framework, education alone cannot solve this crisis.

I propose that the government consider declaring teenage pregnancy unlawful and punishable by law, holding both the perpetrator and the pregnant pupil accountable.

Such a law would not aim to criminalise vulnerability, but to deter deliberate exploitation and reinforce responsibility across society.

Of course, this measure must be implemented with care to protect young mothers’ rights, ensure continued access to education, and prevent further marginalisation.

But in a context where many older men exploit minors with impunity, legal deterrents could serve as a necessary complement to education and health efforts.

In my work as a life skills teacher, I remind pupils that manhood is not proven by control or exploitation, but by discipline, respect, and responsibility.

Prevention requires a whole-community response – teachers, parents, traditional leaders, healthcare workers, and the government all have a role to play.

I strongly support the current policy and its review process.

However, if we are to protect our children and secure their future, we must move from awareness to accountability, from reaction to prevention.

Our pupils deserve a system that not only educates but safeguards them from harm.

– Andreas Robert is a high school counsellor and Member of the Namibia UNFPA Youth Advisory Panel, which advises on sexual and reproductive health issues.

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