Mulanje District Commissioner Chriss Nawata has demonstrated exemplary leadership and commitment to safeguarding the future of the district’s children by launching urgent interventions to combat the growing challenge of teenage pregnancies and early marriages affecting girls’ education.
The decisive action follows a disturbing report received on 10 June 2026 indicating that two female candidates sitting for the 2026 Primary School Leaving Certificate Examination (PSLCE) had given birth while still participating in the national examinations.
One 16-year-old learner from Kachere Primary School delivered a baby by the roadside while travelling to her examination centre at Mgumera Cluster. In a separate incident, another candidate gave birth on a Sunday and courageously attempted to continue with her examinations the following day.
Deeply concerned by these developments, District Commissioner Chriss Nawata immediately engaged the Directors of Education Services and Social and Community Services to establish the magnitude of the problem across Mulanje District.
The findings revealed a worrying situation. During the 2026/27 Financial Year, a total of 405 female learners dropped out of school, largely due to teenage pregnancies and early marriages. In addition, 38 female PSLCE candidates failed to sit for their examinations because of pregnancy-related challenges.
Recognising the urgent need for action, Nawata convened an emergency meeting involving child protection stakeholders, education authorities and other key partners.
The meeting resolved to implement immediate interventions aimed at protecting girls and ensuring they remain in school.
Among the agreed actions were intensified community engagement programmes, strengthened awareness campaigns on girl-child protection, and the development of a comprehensive action plan to address the root causes of teenage pregnancies and early marriages.
Demonstrating hands-on leadership, Chriss Nawata later led a high-level delegation to Kachere Primary School to engage local authorities and community leaders on the matter.
The visit exposed the human impact of the crisis. During discussions, stakeholders listened to the emotional account of a father whose hopes of seeing his daughter succeed through education had been shattered by circumstances that could have been prevented through stronger community protection mechanisms.
In a firm demonstration of government’s commitment to child protection, Nawata instructed law enforcement agencies to take immediate action against those responsible for impregnating the two learners. Both cases involve children below the age of 18, making them matters requiring urgent legal intervention.
Speaking during the engagements, Chriss Nawata emphasised that protecting the girl child is a collective responsibility requiring the involvement of every sector of society. He stressed that there must be zero tolerance for individuals who destroy the future of young girls through exploitation and abuse.
Looking ahead, Nawata has pledged to spearhead a vigorous district-wide campaign aimed at retaining girls in school, reducing teenage pregnancies, ending early marriages and promoting educational attainment among all learners.
He has further called upon traditional leaders, Members of Parliament, councillors, civil society organisations, religious leaders, parents and all community gatekeepers to unite behind the mission of protecting the girl child and securing a brighter future for Mulanje District.
The swift response and proactive leadership demonstrated by Chriss Nawata underscore government’s commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of gender, has an opportunity to access education, realise their potential and contribute meaningfully to national development.
As Mulanje intensifies efforts to tackle teenage pregnancies and early marriages under the leadership of District Commissioner Chriss Nawata, the district’s approach is expected to serve as a model for strengthening child protection and educational retention across the country.
