By George Omagbemi Sylvester
The Adamawa State Government has officially adopted a new policy allowing married and pregnant adolescents to return to school as part of efforts to improve access to education and reduce the number of out-of-school girls in the state.
The policy was adopted on May 11, 2026, during an official event in Yola where the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Umar Garba Pella, said the initiative was designed to ensure that no girl is permanently denied education because of pregnancy, marriage, or related social circumstances.
According to the government, the policy titled Re-entry to Education for Married and Pregnant Adolescents will also be integrated into the state’s 2027 education budget to support implementation, counselling systems, teacher training, and community sensitisation programmes.
The guidelines were reportedly developed by ACE Charity with support from the Malala Fund following consultations involving education stakeholders, development partners, child protection advocates, and adolescent girls.
Stakeholders described the policy as a significant step toward inclusive education in northern Nigeria, where early marriage and adolescent pregnancy remain major barriers to girls’ education and school retention.
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