Ghana: APPI Condemns Discrimination Of Pregnant Teacher Trainees

The Africa Public Policy Institute (APPI), a policy think-tank, has said that the action to disallow pregnant teacher-trainees to write their final examination is manifestly illegal, and the rules upon which such action is based are illegal and unconstitutional.

According to the APPI, Article 27(3) of the 1992 Constitution states that “Women shall be guaranteed equal rights to training and promotion without any impediments from any person.”

“It should be clear from the above that any decision that operates against women, by virtue of their being women, thus amounting to discrimination against them, is wrong and illegal.”

He said although the right to education was a fundamental human right enshrined in the Constitution, the nation has suffered for too long as a result of several discriminatory practices against women, such that the female youth had labored in many ways for the male youth to be educated.

Also, he pointed out that if a college deprives a married woman of the right to get preganant, thus preventing her from taking exams, that institution has seriously infringed on the fundamental human rights of that woman.

The consequences of depriving a woman of the right to education are very grave, hence, “This regulation does not resolve any mischief. It rather seeks to plunge more Ghanaian women into poverty, misery, and illiteracy,” he noted.

This, according to him, would affect generations unborn, therefore, “the Ghana Education Service, the Ministry of Education and Hon. Attorney General are, therefore, advised to reverse this decision,” he said.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the Executive Director of the organization, Professor Mike Oquaye, which added that the APPI read with utmost dismay, the publication that pregnant teacher-trainees could not write examinations.

Prof. Oquaye said the article mentioned that “the Principal of St. Monica’s Training College says they are constrained to do so under “rules and regulations stipulated by the Teachers Education Division Manuel for teacher Trainees.”

He said this rules give principals powers to dismiss, suspend or disallow female students found pregnant from taking examinations, while the GES Code of Discipline for teacher trainees 1998, Page 21, further states that “a female student who becomes pregnant would be made to withdraw for a minimum period of one year, to apply for readmission.”