By Namagembe Provia, Uganda

In my community, I have watched bright girls leave school because of pregnancy. I never saw failures; I saw dreams being interrupted. Every empty desk reminded me that losing an education should never be the price of becoming a mother.

She was once the girl who answered questions in class, laughed with her friends, and dreamed about her future. Then everything changed. People stopped seeing her as a student and started seeing her only as “the pregnant girl.” Soon, she was no longer in the classroom.

I kept asking myself: Why should pregnancy end her education when it does not end her ability to learn?

This question has stayed with me because it happens to many girls. They do not leave school because they have given up on their dreams; they leave because society has given up on them.

Article 23 of the Maputo Protocol reminds us that women and girls deserve protection from discrimination and should receive support to continue their education. Every girl deserves dignity, equal opportunities, and the chance to build her future.

Pregnancy should never erase a girl’s potential. Education gives girls knowledge, confidence, and the power to transform their lives. When a girl stays in school, she can become a nurse who saves lives, a teacher who inspires others, a scientist who creates solutions, or a leader who brings change to her community.

But when a girl is forced out of school, we all lose. We lose talents, ideas, and future leaders.

The unfairness is clear: when a boy becomes a father, he is rarely forced to abandon his education. Yet many girls carry the burden alone. Equality means giving every girl the same chance to learn, grow, and achieve her dreams.

Imagine an Africa where no girl feels ashamed to return to school after giving birth. Imagine schools that welcome instead of judge, classmates who support instead of gossip, and communities that choose compassion over stigma.

This change begins with all of us. Governments must turn commitments like the Maputo Protocol into action. Schools must create safe spaces for pregnant girls and young mothers to continue learning. Parents and communities must encourage girls to stay focused on their futures.

Pregnancy lasts for nine months, but education opens doors for a lifetime. We should never allow a temporary moment to destroy a lifelong dream.

I dream of a day when every girl can walk through the school gate with confidence, knowing she belongs there. Until that day comes, we must keep speaking up, standing together, and choosing education over exclusion.

A classroom door should never close because of pregnancy. Every girl deserves the chance to learn, rise, and become the woman she dreams of being.