Acting General Education Minister Martin Tako speaking during the commemoration of World Teachers Day at Rambur Teacher Training Institute. Photo: Charles Wote/Eye Radio

The Acting Minister of General Education on Monday warned female candidates against getting pregnant 9 months before exams after the ministry registered 8 deliveries in the 2022-2023 academic year examinations.

Martin Tako said the education ministry will not allow any deliveries in the examination hall this time.

“While we punish your parents for preventing you from going to school, but then do the right thing like what we have seen here. This year’s examination, those who are sitting we don’t want to see a single student delivering in the examination hall,” Tako said.

He made the remarks on the occasion of World Teachers Day at Rambur National Teacher Training Institute in Juba.

Cases of female candidates reportedly writing their exams at maternal wards or delivering at examination centers have been recorded in the previous years.

“We witnessed eight students delivered during the examination both at primary and secondary level, from a number of the states some almost delivered in the examination room while all of us were there, the Minister, the Vice President, me, the Undersecretary, Secretary General for examination council.”

Acting Minister Tako further encourages girls to study hard to achieve their dreams.

“Please take this opportunity to study very seriously the end of the world has not yet come, so why do you hurry you study to become a doctor, an engineer and then the issue of marriage is there, it is natural.”