23 October 2006
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has identified teenage pregnancy
as a factor in the drop out rate of girl learners in schools. It is perceived
as a factor hindering girls' education and it is a barrier to school
attendance.
The school functionality visits conducted in January and in July 2006 found
that teenage pregnancy was one of the reasons listed for learner absenteeism at
some schools. This also contributes to poor results at the end of each academic
year.
In an attempt to address the issue of learner pregnancy in our public
schools the Department has developed a number of strategies:
� a provincial summit on learner pregnancy
� research on learner pregnancy in each of the 12 education districts
� the finalisation of a learner pregnancy policy.
The teenage pregnancy summit will be held tomorrow, 24 October 2006, where a
presentation on the research findings will be made. Commissions will then
discuss issues raised during the research, such as cultural, religious, poverty
and other influences on teenage pregnancy, as well as the role of the school
and how schools should deal with it.
The stakeholders, invited to the summit, include religious leaders,
Amakhosi, Izinduna, local councillors, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
and education officials. The Department will use the input from stakeholders
attending the summit, when finalising the learner pregnancy policy.
Date: 24 October 2006
Time: 10h00 � 16h00
Venue: Royal Showgrounds, Pietermaritzburg
Contact person:
Christi Naud�
Cell: 083 262 8829
Issued by: Department of Education
23 October 2006
