UN welcomes DRC's decision to keep pregnant girls in school

The United Nations has welcomed the Congolese government’s decision to allow pregnant girls to continue their education. This measure is contained in Circular No. 1245 of July 14, 2025, issued by the Acting Secretary General of National Education and New Citizenship and addressed to the Directors of the educational provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is part of the effort to combat gender inequality in schools. In a press release, the UN praised an initiative that puts an end to a discriminatory practice that forced many teenage girls to drop out of school due to pregnancy. From now on, these students will be able to continue their studies without being excluded.

“Guaranteeing the inalienable right to education for all girls, including those facing pregnancy, is a cornerstone of gender equality and sustainable development,” said John Agbor, Acting Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in the DRC.

A fight against restrictive social norms For decades, rigid social norms and frequent cases of sexual violence have jeopardized the future of thousands of young Congolese girls. Pregnancy, often linked to a lack of information, bodily autonomy, or sexual assault, had become a reason for expulsion from school. For the United Nations, this circular is a decisive step toward social justice, the empowerment of girls, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 5 (gender equality), and SDG 10 (reduced inequalities). Multifaceted Support from the United Nations Through their Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (SDCF) 2025–2029, UN agencies in the DRC are supporting improved access to quality education, sexual and reproductive health, and the collection of reliable data. Concrete actions are being taken, such as capacity-building for the National Institute of Statistics (INS), the implementation of the School Information System (SIGE), and the use of the DHIS2 health information system. Call for Mobilization Across Society The United Nations is calling on civil society and local communities to challenge discriminatory social norms and defend the fundamental right of every child—girl or boy—to a quality education.

 “Enabling every adolescent girl to reach her full potential is essential to building a more just and prosperous society,” the United Nations emphasizes.

Willy Kambulu