Dumisani Ndlovu
SHURUGWI – Dorset Secondary School in Shurugwi is grappling with a disturbing surge in student dropouts, with over 50 pupils, predominantly girls, leaving the institution this year.
The primary drivers behind these departures are teenage pregnancies and early child marriages, a trend that has ignited alarm bells among the school’s leadership and local authorities.
During the school’s annual speech and prize-giving ceremony, Headmaster Munodawafa Mbayimbayi revealed the severe reality facing Dorset Secondary.
“Of the 402 pupils enrolled this year – 198 boys and 208 girls – we lost 50 learners due to various reasons, chief among them being pregnancy and early child marriage,” Mbayimbayi said.
“Twenty-nine of these were girls from Form Two, Three, and Four who had registered to sit for the 2025 ZIMSEC examinations. The remaining 21 were boys.”
The headmaster expressed profound dismay at the perpetrators involved in these pregnancies.
“What boggles our minds is that these pregnancies are not being caused by fellow schoolboys, but by adults – parents, herd boys, and domestic workers,” he asserted, his voice resonating with frustration.
Mbayimbayi implored the community and parents to actively monitor their children.
“To the community, I kindly appeal to you parents, to monitor children and see to it they walk their academic journey without any hiccup. Let us support their rights to education.”
Ward 21 Councillor Michael Sibanda echoed the headmaster’s concerns, condemning the adults preying on minors.
“Some of these men are leaving their wives and chasing after children. It is shameful and criminal,”
Sibanda declared, his condemnation ringing through the ceremony.
Councillor Sibanda urged villagers to take immediate action and report such offenders.
“I call upon all community members to report such people to the police.
“These offenders must be arrested without fear or favour,” he said.
The councillor emphasised the gravity of the situation, adding, “Such people must be dealt
with severely by the courts of law. We cannot allow this to continue.”
Despite the progressive Education Act of 2020, which permits pregnant students to continue their studies with a provision for two weeks of maternity leave, the dropout rate at Dorset Secondary remains alarmingly high.
Shurugwi District Education Officer Simoli Makwati confirmed that an investigation into the matter is underway.
“Investigations are underway, and I am optimistic that by Friday, I will have enough information about the issue,” she said.
The lack of accountability for perpetrators has become a significant point of concern among various stakeholders.
Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, the Midlands police spokesperson, said the police can only act upon receiving a formal report.
“Where there is no report, there is no case. I urged people to report such cases so that perpetrators are brought to book,” he said.
