The Adamawa State Government has officially adopted new policy guidelines to ensure the re-entry of married and pregnant adolescents into the education system. This move is part of efforts to improve access to education for adolescent girls in the state. The guidelines, titled Re-entry to Education for Married and Pregnant Adolescents, were formally adopted in Yola by the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Dr. Umar Garba Pella, on behalf of the state government.
Speaking at the event, Pella reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that no girl is permanently excluded from education due to pregnancy, marriage, or other related life circumstances. The Commissioner further pledged to integrate the implementation of the guidelines into the 2027 state education budget. This integration aims to ensure adequate funding for school re-entry support systems, capacity building, and community sensitisation programmes.
The policy guidelines were developed by ACE Charity and funded by the Malala Fund. They were designed through a broad consultative process involving education stakeholders, child protection actors, development partners, adolescent girls, and other relevant groups. The framework is designed to support married, pregnant, divorced, widowed, teenage mothers, and out-of-school adolescent girls. It enables them to either remain in or return to formal and non-formal education pathways.
Stakeholders at the event noted that adolescent pregnancy and child marriage remain major barriers to girls’ education in Adamawa State. They stressed the need for coordinated and system-wide responses to address these challenges. Participants described the adoption as a landmark step toward strengthening gender-responsive education policies in the state. They emphasised that effective implementation would be critical to improving school retention and learning outcomes for adolescent girls.
The guidelines are also expected to strengthen coordination among schools, education authorities, child protection systems, health services, and community structures. This coordination ensures a consistent and supportive re-entry process for affected girls. The Adamawa State Government reiterated its commitment to inclusive education and ensuring that every girl in the state has the opportunity to complete her education and achieve her full potential.
