High pregnancy rate in schools remains a serious concern

MBOMBELA – Shocking statistics were recently revealed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) indicating that Mpumalanga has one of the highest school pregnancy rates in South Africa.

In the 2014 academic year, Mpumalanga had the second highest pregnancy rate in primary schools basic eduction minister, Ms Angie Motsheka said in a reply to questions posed by the DA’s Mpumalanga deputy leader and Member of Parliament, Ms Sonja Boshoff.

According to these statistics 130 primary school learners fell pregnant in the 2014 academic year, the majority of whom where 13 years and under.

One of these schools that shocked the province was the Matimba Primary School in the Mbombela Muncipality where 11 learners fell pregnant within the space of one year.

“The high number of primary school learners falling pregnant is extremely concerning as these children are unlikely to be able to look after their babies, let alone stay in school up to matric,” the DA said.

The situation in secondary schools also doesn’t look any better. The province has the third-highest pregnancy rate in secondary schools with a total of 3 196 teenagers falling pregnant in 2014.

According to the DA the majority of the schools that recorded a high number of pregnancies are lower quintile schools which are known to battle with infrastructure, discipline and educational challenges. According to the DA another reason for the high numbers might also be an indication of sexual crimes being committed, either at home or at school.

“The time has come to identify and deal with the real cause of teenage pregnancy, rather than the department’s feeble attempt of addressing the consequences and symptoms thereof. More support must be provided to learners, especially those in lower quintile schools, because not only are they burdened with social-economic challenges but they bear the brunt of the education department’s failures,” the DA concluded.

Lowvelder asked the Department of Education to provide it with interventions they are planning to incorporate in order to curb the disturbing trend upon and they replied the following:

• A multisectoral approach in addressing social challenges affecting learners including teenage pregnancy and HIV/Aids.

• An integrated plan developed by all departments under the ambit of the Mpumalanga Aids Council focusing on the four strategic objectives of the Provincial Strategic Plan on STI, HIV and TB assisted/guided in refocusing on relevant issues such as addressing structural behaviours on core drivers of HIV/Aids.

• Community dialogues and social mobilisation led by the Department of Social Development which contributes in addressing social challenges affecting learners since parents are part of the stakeholders.

• Collaboration with the Department of Health in training girl learners and their mothers in the programme called “Mayihlasele Izazi” contributing to a decrease in teenage pregnancy.

• Collaboration with the SAPS if the learner is a minor, with regards to opening a case of statutory rape against the perpetrator.

• Peer education programmes such as GEM/BEMS and the RADS focusing on co-curricular activities including a combination prevention strategy.

• A provincial committee for GEM/BEM clubs was elected during December 2014 and their key role is to ensure that the peer education programme yields the intended results at all participating schools.

• Strengthening the implementation of the sexual and reproductive health programme as part of the curriculum to assist in increasing the knowledge of educators on issues of reducing new infections including teenage pregnancy.

• The Soul Buddyz Programme targeting primary schools implemented in collaboration with Soul City will contribute to the reduction of teenage pregnancy.

• Convene an Annual GBEM campa and other peer education camps during December 2015, where learners from schools in all districts will be empowered on running peer education movements and emphasise the issues of abstinence.

• Work with the media to discourage this trend and to urge and encourage learners to stick to their studies.

• Conduct open discussion workshops between learners and parents targeting schools with high pregnancies to conscientise them about their role in learner pregnancy prevention.

• Intensify the implementation of the Caring4Girls programme in collaboration with Imbumba Foundation and Banking Association South Africa.

• Implementation of the Integrated School Health Programme where health education is implemented in schools including the combination prevention strategy and Sexual Reproductive Health is presented by health nurses allocated to schools.

Over and above these programmes, Mr Jasper Zwane, spokesman for the education department, said government would make sure that learners who fall pregnant were not unfairly removed from the schooling system and that government policy would continue to protect the right to education of the pregnant learners.

According to him the department issued a circular to direct all schools whose policies allowed the expulsion of pregnant learners, to revise those policies and remove the discriminatory clauses. “The view of the Department is that since this is a societal challenge it remains prudent for a multisectorial approach encompassing massive stakeholder and community involvement to embrace the programmes that government is putting in place,” Zwane said.

“The Department was going to be concerned even if there was only one learner who got pregnant while at school because of the dilemma that is presented by being pregnant at school. Our children need to enjoy their youth, go to schooland graduate before they could be mothers. Our concern is that this confirms that they embark on unsafe sex which makes them vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/Aids,” said the MEC for Education, Ms Reginah Mhaule.