In Transmara South, learning is supposed to be a ladder out of poverty. Instead, for many schoolgirls, it has become a daily struggle marked by shame, silence and impossible choices. In classrooms scattered across Chelchel and Olesoilal primary schools, basic menstrual hygiene needs remain unmet; a challenge that teachers say is quietly pushing some girls out of education altogether. At Chelchel and Olesoilal, teenage girls are walking to class without underwear or sanitary towels. Teachers describe the situation as persistent and worsening during certain times of the month, with absenteeism rising and some learners eventually dropping out. The pain behind the statistics is visible in everyday school life. Inside crowded classrooms at Chelchel, some girls sit withdrawn, avoiding attention whenever menstruation is discussed. Teachers say the anxiety is not only about discomfort, but about stigma. The fear of being laughed at or exposed in front of classmates. “I feel so bad ...
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