LAC defends school pregnancy policy
01 November 2011
Namibian
By: Luqman Cloete
The Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) has come out in support of Government’s policy to allow pregnant girls to attend school until four weeks before giving birth.
After a six-months-pregnant girl at Keetmanshoop’s PK de Villiers High School had a miscarriage at the school’s hostel, students at the school criticised the policy.
They claimed the number of pregnancies at schools has risen since the introduction of the policy.
Recent statics revealed that there have been 31 pregnancies at schools in the Karas Region this year compared to 19 in 2010.
Defending the policy, Rachel Coomer of the LAC Gender Research and Advocacy Project argued that the problem of teenage pregnancies in Namibia is one that will take time to address.
“The new policy is a positive step towards reducing the incidence of learner pregnancy and the Legal Assistance Centre looks forward to seeing the policy fully implemented to further this goal,” Coomer said. She said the policy introduced change in that a pregnant girl can attend school for a longer period compared to the previous guidelines.
Saying that the policy is “flexible,” Coomer noted: “Pregnant learners and learner mothers may but do not have to utilise this option. Secondly when pregnant learners and learner-mothers do attend school, their health and the health of their baby is of utmost importance.
“The policy contains provisions in this regard, requiring medical opinion and proof to show that the learner and baby are of good health.” Coomer explained that a pupil must provide a medical certificate certifying that it is safe for her to continue with her schooling if she wishes beyond six months of pregnancy.
“Another point to note is that whilst the policy allows pregnant girls to remain in school until four weeks before due date, it does not require that they do so – a core principle in the policy flexibility. Each situation shall be assessed and evaluated individually, with sensitivity to the learner’s health, financial situation, options for child care, family support or lack of support, the timing of the delivery in relation to the school calendar and the needs of the newborn child,” Coomer added.
She said there has been little change in the number of schoolgirls falling pregnant over the last few years.
According to Coomer, the focus of the new policy is prevention of teenage pregnancy, including the encouragement of abstinence and the communication of values such as gender equality and respect for individual autonomy.
“The hope is that fewer and fewer learner pregnancies will occur – the ultimate goal of the Ministry of Education Policy for the Prevention and Management of Learner Pregnancy is to decrease the number of learner pregnancies and increase the number of learner-parents who complete their education,” Coomer said.
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