A teacher in Samburu County has earned praise from Kenyans after stepping in to care for a student's baby while she sat for her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.
Francis Lesilampa, an educator at Morijo Mixed Day Senior School, attracted attention after a photograph showing him holding the infant outside a classroom block circulated online.
In the image, Lesilampa is seen carrying the baby securely against his chest using a traditional kikoi. The infant's face is covered, protecting the child's privacy.
His gesture allowed the KCSE candidate to concentrate on her examinations without having to worry about caring for her child during the demanding assessment period.
The incident has sparked conversations about the challenges young mothers face when trying to complete their education. For students raising children, attending classes and sitting national examinations can become more difficult when childcare support is unavailable.
Lesilampa's actions have therefore been viewed as an example of how teachers can make a difference beyond their normal classroom responsibilities.
Kenya has a school re-entry policy designed to ensure that pregnancy and childbirth do not permanently prevent learners from pursuing their education. The Ministry of Education's 2020 National Guidelines for School Re-entry in Early Learning and Basic Education provide for pregnant learners to remain in school for as long as possible and sit national examinations where their health permits.
The guidelines also require school heads and staff to take reasonable steps to accommodate learners' educational and maternal needs during examination periods.
However, young mothers may still encounter practical difficulties, including childcare responsibilities, stigma and limited support from their communities.
Lesilampa's decision to look after the infant has drawn admiration from members of the public, with many appreciating his willingness to help a candidate focus on an important stage of her academic journey.
His gesture has also highlighted the importance of creating supportive school environments where young parents are given an opportunity to complete their education.
For the candidate, the teacher's intervention meant she could sit her KCSE papers while knowing her baby was being cared for.
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