Nearly 50 000 pupils dropped out of school last year with more than two-thirds dropping out of secondary school, Deputy Education Minister Angeline Gata says. She said 15 809 dropped out of primary school with Mashonaland Central recording the highest figure of 3 052 while Bulawayo had the lowest at 285. More than double that figures, 33 746, dropped out of secondary school with the highest number coming from the Midlands which had 5 138. Harare had the lowest figure of 1 616. Gata said there were several reasons why the pupils dropped out but some dropped out because they got pregnant.