Commission welcomes implementation of teenage pregnancy policy
JOBURG – CGE will be monitoring the implementation plan and will, where necessary, engage both the Department of Basic Education and the Provincial Department of Education.
The Commission for Gender Equality has welcomed the announcement of the Teenage Pregnancy Policy that was recently approved by Cabinet.
The commission promotes, protects, monitors and evaluates gender equality through research, public education, policy development, legislative initiatives, effective monitoring and litigation.
The policy, which will be implemented from January next year, will allow female learners who are pregnant as well as the male learners who impregnate them, to continue with their education.
Commission spokesperson Javu Baloyi said, “Early, unplanned learner pregnancies subject girls to socio-economic hardships, and the termination of their education during that stage, exacerbates the situation by diminishing their future economic and employment prospects.”
The commission also applauded the National Council of Provinces for its decisive action to hold a plenary after 33 000 young girls fell pregnant this year.
Baloyi said the meeting, held on November 18, was a positive step in addressing the rape crisis, teenage pregnancy, and measures to deal with the scourge.
The commission will be monitoring the implementation plan and will, where necessary, engage with both the Department of Basic Education and the Provincial Department of Education.
