As I write this piece, KJSEA candidates are preparing to report to senior school. At the same time, the 2025 KCSE results have just been released. In both moments of academic transition, there are thousands of young girls whose education journeys are quietly coming to an abrupt halt because of pregnancy. Some were defiled by relatives and then abandoned by their parents. Instead of protection and compassion, they now face condemnation. Society points fingers at them while excusing those who failed to protect them.
To every teenage mother carrying not only a child but also fear, shame and uncertainty, this is a reminder that your story is not over. Pregnancy may have interrupted your schooling, but it has not ended your future. Education is still yours to reclaim. Returning to school is not an act of defiance or embarrassment; it is an act of courage.
Many girls who become pregnant are made to feel as though they have failed beyond repair. They are told – directly or silently – that they have disappointed their families, disgraced their schools and ruined their chances in life. Some are chased away from home, others are withdrawn from school and many are left to navigate motherhood alone, without guidance, resources or encouragement. The weight of judgment often becomes heavier than the pregnancy itself.
Yet the truth remains this: becoming a mother does not erase intelligence, dreams or potential. It does not cancel the right to education. School is not reserved for the perfect or the mistake-free. It exists for learners—those who stumble, rise and keep going. Returning to school is not pretending nothing happened; it is choosing growth despite what happened.
ALSO READ:
Kipsigis Girls, Kabianga Boys top in 2025 KCSE exams in Kericho
Education offers teenage mothers far more than certificates. It provides confidence, independence and options. A girl who goes back to school equips herself with the tools to provide for her child, to make informed decisions and to break cycles of poverty and dependency. When a young mother learns, her child benefits too. A mother who values education is more likely to raise a child who values it.
Fear is understandable. Many teenage mothers worry about how they will be treated by teachers, classmates and school administrators. They fear whispers, laughter and labels. They worry about falling behind academically or struggling to balance schoolwork with motherhood. These fears are real, but they are not reasons to give up. They are reasons to seek support.
Schools must increasingly become spaces of restoration rather than rejection. Policies already exist that allow teenage mothers to return to school, to sit in classrooms again, to wear uniforms with dignity and to learn without discrimination. While challenges persist, change is happening. Every girl who returns strengthens that change. By stepping back into school, teenage mothers claim their rightful space and remind society that education is a right, not a reward for perfection.
Returning to school also sends a powerful message to other girls watching silently. It tells them that one mistake does not define a lifetime. It teaches resilience, accountability, and hope. It shows that responsibility does not mean disappearing, but showing up – stronger, wiser and determined.
To the teenage mother who feels too ashamed to go back, remember that shame thrives in silence and isolation, while growth happens in community. Speak to a trusted teacher, parent, guardian or school administrator. Ask for help. You are not weak for needing support; you are human. Motherhood itself is proof of your strength.
There will be difficult days – days when exhaustion makes concentration hard, when childcare is a struggle and when judgment feels overwhelming. But there will also be victories: passing exams, learning new ideas, rebuilding confidence and rediscovering dreams you thought you had lost. Every lesson learned is a step toward a future where both you and your child thrive.
Education does not ask you to choose between being a mother and being a student. You can be both. You can nurture a child and nurture your mind. You can carry books alongside diapers, dreams alongside responsibility. Many women before you have done it and many after you will draw strength from your example.
To every teenage mother reading this: you are not invisible, you are not finished and you are not alone. Your classroom seat is still waiting. Your future is still possible. Walk back into school not with fear, but with purpose. Your journey may be different, but it is no less valuable. Let it become a story of resilience, hope and transformation.
By Ashford Kimani
Ashford Kimani teaches English and Literature in Gatundu North Sub-county and serves as a Dean of Studies.
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
