Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha has accused parents of abdicating their responsibility to educate their children on the dangers of engaging in early sex.
Prof Magoha blamed the spike in teenage pregnancies on parents for neglecting their roles to advise, monitor and control their children’s behaviour.
Speaking on Monday in Kwale County during the International Youth Day, the Education boss said the teenage pregnancy menace at the Coast is alarming and should be ended.
“This issues of teen pregnancy is uncalled for. This is something we blame the parents for failing on their role,” said Prof Magoha.
The teen pregnancy issue came to the fore in the 2018 when an alarmingly high number of Kenya Certificate of Primary Education candidates sat their exams while pregnant.
According to the Global Childhood Report 2019, Kenya dropped points in curbing child marriage and teenage pregnancies.
The report came amid a heated public debate on whether the country should reduce the legal age of sexual consent to 16, with many worried such a policy would promote teenage pregnancy.
The report published by Save the Children estimated Kenya’s teenage birth rate in 2016 at 82 births per 1,000 girls age 15-19, according to Nation’s Newsplex.
Vocational training
Meanwhile, Prof Magoha stressed that the government is committed to expanding vocational training colleges to accommodate thousands of Kenyan youths.
The CS said the new competency-based curriculum will help beat the vocational industry deficit.
Prof Magoha said his ministry will release Sh6.1 billion for expansion of public institutions in Kwale County.
“This money will ensure every public institution, both primary and secondary school, in Kwale County receives a classroom, a lab and an extra adminstration block. This is part of the government program to improve education standards,” said Prof Magoha.
The Public Service CS Margaret Kobia said the government is keen to invest in the youth to help them realise their dreams.
Prof Kobia said the government will soon roll out internship programme that targets to benefit 3,200 youths across the country.
“The government is keen on the internship programme that is set to be rolled out in a few days. We urge the youth to take up this slots seriously,” said Prof Kobia.
“The government is investing heavily by creating youth empowerment centers countrywide. This is a game changer for the youth,” said the Public Service CS.
Nominated Member of Parliament Gideon Keter urged for the establishment of a strategic industrial fund for the youth.
Mr Keter asked the government to consider writing off debt held by Helb defaulters.
