Teenage relationships are on the increase among learners.  But they have also come with consequences on the social and academic lives of students.

Stakeholders especially parents should not bury their heads and assume there is nothing their teens are up to while in school. They need to focus on the reality that some teens are involved in relationships while at school.

However, such relationships may be damaging. In their desperation, they (children) may choose a boyfriend or girlfriend who may fail to take into account that being in a relationship takes hard work and some sacrifice. For them, it may mean sexual intercourse and yet this isn’t the principle of relationships at this level. Relationships for students should be for academic purposes and extra co-curricular activities.

When they engage in romantic relationships, this has negative effects on students, like falling grades, lack of respect for teachers and colleagues. In some cases (sexual), it may lead to contraction of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies.

Schools should develop guidance and counseling services, to equip students with life skills like abstinence.