Stigma and financial constraints have continued to deter teenage mothers in Baringo from acquiring skills at vocational training institutions.
Women in most institutions in the area encounter transport challenges, forcing them to walk for long distance with their toddlers to get to school.
Despite colleague students and community calling them derogatory names, a section of young women in Kabimoi Vocational Training College (VTC) have braved the disparaging annotations in the hope of a better future.
Charity Koech, studying hair dressing at the institution, has vowed not to be abashed in her quest to have her second chance after her dream to continue with learning was cut short after having a child.
“I won’t be ashamed to come to this college with my child. She has to eat and I have a future to secure,” she said as she plaited the hair of a fellow student in a busy practical lesson assigned by the instructor.
She said although their children are disruptive during lessons, sometimes pushing, pulling and fighting, nothing has deterred them from continuing with their education.
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Kabimoi VTC has over 10 young mothers who narrate similar stories. They wake up early to prepare and pack food for their children, walk several kilometres to college and skillfully multi-task between learning and keeping an eye on their kids.
Some who spoke to Education News on condition of anonymity tell of frustrations from the fathers of the children who have abandoned them or dissuaded them from pursuing education.
Mary Emuryo, a 22-year old mother of two, is an exception as she is in a stable and supportive relationship. The first year student of Fashion and Design dreams of working in big firms one day.
Wesley Yegon, an Electricals Installations instructor, said there must be a policy to reintegrate young mothers into the education system.
“We cannot ignore the reality of teenage mothers and their children. It is quite challenging training them at our workshops for we have safety procedures,’’ said Yegon.
According to Baringo County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of vocational training Rev Symon Kiuta, the county has 15 VTCs and plans to introduce seven more next year to curb the enrollment deficit of 1326 against a capacity of 5,000.
Rev Kiuta however lauded the young mothers for going back to school, citing Kabimoi and Maji Moto in Mogotio Sub-county as colleges that have registered a good number of young mothers.
By Alfred Kimosop
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