Early pregnancy in rural Mozambique. Clara is an extravert girl from the province of Gasa, Chicanhanine, Mozambique.
She is fifteen years old. She lives with her sister who is disabled and has a brother who has been away for four years because of his job in the capital Maputo.
He is also the man that sustains the family. Clara studied at the primary school of Chicanhanine where she also graduated from the lower secondary.
She was well known as she was recognised for her dedication to her studies.
After the basic grade, she went ahead and followed her technical grade in the Family Farm school (FFS) of Chicanhanine.
In this school the tuition fee is payed every semester by her brother.
When she statrted in the first level at school, she got pregnant at the age of 14 years. Her pregnancy was unnoticed during nearly the whole because she kept it well hidden. Nearing the end of the year, her teachers and colleagues noticed her pregnancy.
For those in charge of education, getting rid of pregnant students is not a solution.
As it is common to see early pregnancies in this community, she felt good, and assured in what she was doing.
But when she started her studies in the second year with her pregnancy already well developed, it was seen that she had started loosing attention in school in theoretical as well as practical courses. due to weakness.
Her brother, who was responsible for her got frustrated with the condition of his sister, and the sacrifice he does. He decided to pay no more for the expenses of his sister.
As a result, she dropped out of her school as she gave up and went to work in the market. She decided to sell tomatoes as an economic activity.
For those in charge of education, getting rid of pregnant students is not a solution.
It is necessary to talk about reproductive health and to have a personalized accompaniment, because (school) withdrawals are compromising the country's future.