School authorities in Sassandra are raising the alarm about a wave of pregnancies among schoolchildren, even before the end of the first term. More than a dozen cases have already been identified in secondary schools in the area, revealing an increasingly worrying local and national situation.

📌 One establishment accounts for the majority of cases

The Goffry Kouassi Raymond Modern High School is particularly affected, recording more than ten cases on its own. Among the students concerned, two are in their final year of high school (Terminal A2) and have formalized their situation by presenting medical certificates.

👶 Increasingly younger students

The concern is all the greater because the phenomenon affects very young students:

1. Grihiri Modern College: Three Year 8 students are pregnant. The young age of these girls is a major cause for concern for the teaching staff.
2. San Andrea Private School: A case has been reported in a sixth-grade student. Teachers have requested her temporary removal from the school so she can receive appropriate support.

This trend is not limited to the early years of secondary school. The Lycée Moderne Toussagnon also confirms five pregnancies affecting students in the third, second, and first years of secondary school, confirming that this reality impacts all grade levels.

🤔 The causes: between holidays and delays to the school year

Several educators are trying to explain this early increase:

1. School Holidays: For many observers, pregnancies mainly date back to the summer holiday period.
2. The Late Start: Others point to the late start of the school year in the regional directorate of Gbôklé, which could have led to a relaxation and a lack of supervision among the students.

📈 Sassandra is part of a worrying national trend

The situation in Sassandra reflects a broader national crisis:

Period	Cases of Pregnancy in Schools	Progression
Sept. 2023 - June 2024	4,137	+8.31% (compared to the previous year)
Sept. 2024 - June 2025	4,481

According to the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) , the Gbôklé region, with 177 cases recorded last year, ranked just behind Nawa (424 cases) among the most affected areas. The increase observed this quarter in Sassandra suggests that Gbôklé could once again top the list this year.