GEORGE NEWS - The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) stresses the importance for learners to complete their education and there is a provincial Learner Pregnancy Policy that outlines the process that must be followed when the pregnancy is reported or becomes evident.
The policy lays out the roles and responsibilities, such as:
* the importance of treating the matter with great sensitivity and confidentiality
* providing the learner with support from the specialised support teams available in each education district
* what steps the principal must take (such as confidentiality in reporting to the school governing board (SGB), engaging with the learner's parents/guardians about the plan going forward, procedure when the other responsible party is also a learner (either at the school or at another school), etc.
Departmental spokesperson Bronagh Hammond says should the learner have become pregnant as a result of sexual assault, the principal must follow the procedures in the 'Abuse no More' protocol document.
"The policy also clearly outlines the arrangements that will need to be made for the national senior certificate exams in the case of a Grade 12 learner," says Hammond.
Specialised support teams
The WCED has district specialised support teams who provide psychosocial support to pregnant learners and aim to ensure that they return to school after the delivery of the baby.
"It is very important for learners to complete their education. Learner pregnancy prevention programmes are also rendered from the social work components," says Hammond.
Health Department assistance
Eden district health spokesperson Nadia Ferreira says Western Cape Health and Wellness assists the youth with mental health and decisions that might have a long-term impact on their lives, such as pregnancy.
"All health care users who access antenatal care in our primary health care facilities have a mental health screen as part of their routine antenatal visit.
"If there are any risk factors identified, they are referred for supportive services.
'We also make use of external partners such as Options and Famsa to assist."
Ferreira says apart from health messaging at clinics and in communities through various NGO partners, the department is also rolling out Youth Zones at their facilities.
"We want the youth to feel comfortable visiting our facilities.
"A Youth Zone is a dedicated space created for young people with a dedicated time to respond to their needs. Competent staff are trained to render these services," says Hammond.
Read more here:
Teen pregnancies continue to rise
Support for teen moms at Options
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
