“Sadly, children in primary schools as young as in Standard 4 have been reported to be pregnant,” Letsolathebe further disclosed. Letsholathebe also indicated that his ministry has 378,150 primary learners in primary school. In 2021, 13 children dropped out of primary school due to pregnancy from a total of 1,085 learners who dropped out from primary education nationwide.
“At secondary level, my ministry has 192,151 learners in school. In 2021, 366 children dropped out of secondary school due to pregnancy from a total of 2,566 learners who dropped out of secondary education nationwide,” Letsholathebe said. He added the central region of Botswana accounts for the highest percentage of school dropouts for both teen pregnancy and other reasons, standing at a staggering 45%. Letsholathebe was responding to Maun East Member of Parliament (MP), Goretetse Kekgonegile's question that sought national statistics on teen pregnancy in Botswana. Furthermore, according to the statistics on dropouts as a result of pregnancy presented by the minister, the central region is followed by Kweneng and South regions at 13%, North West at seven percent, South East and Kgatleng at six percent, Kgalagadi at five percent, North East and Gantsi at three percent and a clean sheet from Chobe.
