Pregnancy forced these two girls to drop out of school during Ebola crisis
Photo of the week: Denise and Kadiatu left school when they were pregnant. Now they are both raising 9-month-old children alone
July 29, 2016 by GPE Secretariat
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2 minutes read
Denise David and Kadiatu Allison posing with their children in Liberia. Credit: GPE/Kelley Lynch

Cousins Denise David and Kadiatu Allison, 17 and 18 respectively, live together in Liberia. Denise got pregnant just before her school closed due to the Ebola outbreak, Kadiatu right after. Both girls are now raising 9-month old children, Jenneh and Maimia, alone. Neither knows where their child’s father is.

Even though she would like to, Denise does not think she will return to school because her father will not pay the school fees since she has a baby. Even though education is technically free in Liberia, there are other costs including school materials, transportation, exams and Parent-Teacher-Association fees, which put school out of reach.

With her mother living elsewhere and her father deceased, Kadiatu must wash other people’s clothes to support herself and Maimia. She hopes she will earn enough to go back to school and fulfill her dream of becoming a pilot.

In a 2015 report on the effect of Ebola on education in Liberia, school fees/costs were identified as the primary barrier to education pre-outbreak, followed by work for boys and early pregnancy for girls.

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Education in crisis situations, Gender equality
Sub-Saharan Africa: Liberia

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July 30, 2016 by Grace

Hi,
I read this blog and would like to know why these young women had to drop out of school - pregnancy is not a reason in itself. What is the policy around student pregnancy? What is the support given to pregnant and parenting students for them to continue in school without dropping out and then having to re-enter? Why did her father refuse to pay fees now she has a baby?
Grace

June 15, 2017 by Olivia

In reply to by Grace

Grace,
It sounds like you are coming from a Western cultural perspective. In Liberia, there is still much shame surrounding getting pregnant out of wedlock, especially as a teenager. Girls are nearly banned from attending school because their presenece is seen as a negative influence on the other girls. There is virtually no support for girls to continue school while pregnant and after having a baby. In my parents' generation, girls would be relegated to attend night school, but I do not know the policy now as I have never lived in Liberia as an adult. Her father likely stopped paying her school fees dues to the shame a pregnant teenage daughter has brought to his family and as a form as punishment. It may not make sense to you, but it is a cultural reality for young Liberian girls.
Olivia

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