Education officials in Rubirizi District education officials “rescued” 12 girls from marriage to sit for Primary Leaving Examinations. The examinations were held on November 2nd and 3rd.

According to the district education officer Mr Biru Warufu, 18 pupils had dropped out of school mid-year which he attributed to domestic violence and poverty in the area.

Mr Warufu said after realising the girls had a chance of sitting for the final exams, they mobilised head teachers to look for them and bring them to school.

He said the campaign enabled them to convince 12 girls to abandon their marriage and report to school.

During the campaign, three parents who had married off their children were arrested.

The parents, according to Mr Warufu, were released after convincing their children to abandon their marriages and go to school.

Most children in the district, according to education officials live with single parents who don’t care about their future.

Officials say most girls opt for marriage because of broken families.

“Five girls were pregnant. We even forced another girl to leave her two-week old baby at home to go and sit for the exams,” Mr Gordon Muwanga, the head teacher of Rwemitagu Primary School said.

He said the 16 year-old girl was impregnated by a boda boda rider.