Almaz Derese, 21, who is from Metu in western Ethiopia, had hoped to sit the tests before her baby was born, but the secondary school exams were postponed because of Ramadan.

She went into labour on Monday shortly before the first exam was due to start.

“Because I was rushing to sit the exam, my labour wasn’t difficult at all,” Ms Almaz told BBC Afaan Oromoo. Her husband, Tadese Tulu, said he had to persuade the school to allow her to take the exams at the hospital.

In Ethiopia, it is common for girls to drop out of secondary school and return later on to complete their studies. Ms Almaz now wants to take a two-year course that will prepare her for university. She said she was pleased with how the exams went and her baby son is doing well.