Teenage pregnancy should not mark the end of a girl’s education, educationists and community leaders have said, following the return of two young parents to the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) room at Labayango Primary School in Lamwo district.

The two teenagers, who attend Katebo Primary School, a private institution in Katum Sub-county, are among candidates sitting the 2026 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) at Labayango, where their decision to complete primary education has drawn attention to the importance of giving young parents a second chance.

One of the candidates, Lamara Sharon Nora, returned to school after becoming pregnant and giving birth. She is sitting the examinations with her baby, who was one week old at the time of the examinations.

Lamara said the pregnancy was unexpected, but she decided to resume her studies rather than abandon her academic ambitions.

Her return to the classroom highlights the challenges faced by teenage mothers, many of whom struggle to continue their education because of stigma, financial difficulties, childcare responsibilities and limited family support.

For girls who become pregnant while still in school, the journey back to education can be difficult. Some face rejection from their families, while others are discouraged from returning by community attitudes that associate motherhood with the end of schooling.

However, education stakeholders say such challenges should not permanently deny young mothers the opportunity to complete their education.

Anna Atto, the headteacher of Labayango Primary School, said the two teenagers had been given an opportunity to sit their examinations because their circumstances should not permanently close the door to education.

Atto said denying the learners an opportunity to complete their examinations would worsen their situation by limiting their chances of progressing to another level of education.

She said education should be considered separately from the personal challenges the learners had encountered.

The headteacher added that family and cultural concerns could be addressed without interfering with the children’s right to education.

She said the learners should be encouraged to recognise the challenges they had faced, make responsible decisions and continue pursuing their academic ambitions.

Odoch Boniface, the Gombolola Internal Security Officer (GISO) of Katum sub-county, welcomed the teenagers’ decision to return to school, saying their experience should encourage other learners who have dropped out because of pregnancy to reconsider their future.

Odoch said becoming pregnant and giving birth should not be a reason for girls to abandon their education. He urged parents and guardians to continue supporting their children, even when they become teenage mothers before completing a particular level of schooling.

He said parents should not give up on their children because of mistakes made during their school-going years. “Parents should continue supporting their children because education is important for their future,” Odoch said.

He added that family support, combined with encouragement from teachers and community leaders, could help teenage mothers overcome the challenges associated with returning to school.

Labayango Primary School is hosting candidates from three schools, including its own pupils. The host school has registered 42 candidates, comprising 21 girls and 21 boys.

Cross Healing Primary School has 13 candidates, while Katebo Primary School has nine, bringing the total number of candidates at the examination centre to 64.

The case of the two teenagers presents a reminder that young people who become parents while still in school need support to continue their education.

While teenage pregnancy can create significant challenges for learners and their families, education stakeholders say exclusion from school should not become an additional burden.

Providing opportunities for teenage mothers to return to school can help them acquire knowledge and skills, improve their future prospects and contribute to their communities.

For Lamara and her fellow candidate, completing the examinations represents an opportunity to continue an educational journey that was interrupted by early parenthood.

Their experience also raises a broader question for families, schools and communities: how can young mothers be supported to remain in education rather than being left behind?