ANALYSIS OF THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK GOVERNING THE PREVENTION OF SCHOOLS GIRLS IMPREGNATION ABOVE 18 YEARS OLD IN TANZANIA
This paper explores the legal and institutional framework governing the prenvention of primary and secondary school girls above 18 years from impregnation in Tanzania. Although these learners have legally attained adulthood, they often remain socially and economically vulnerable, particularly within the educational environment. Tanzania’s commitment to protecting schoolgirls from sexual exploitation and early pregnancies is reflected in several key statutes and policy instruments. The study assesses how these legal provisions, when read together, address the rights to education, safety, and bodily autonomy for schoolgirls who are legally adults yet still enrolled in basic education institutions. Furthermore, the paper examines the institutional roles of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRAGG), the Tanzania Police Force, and local government authorities in enforcing existing protections and promoting gender equity in education. Despite the presence of robust legal foundations, enforcement remains inconsistent, and legal ambiguities often exclude schoolgirls above 18 from protective measures traditionally designed for minors. The paper concludes that there is an urgent need to harmonize Tanzania’s legal framework, clarify age-related protections, and strengthen institutional coordination to ensure comprehensive safeguarding of all schoolgirls regardless of age from impregnation and related violations of their educational and human rights.
