to learners
27 November 2006
The Minister of Education, Mrs Naledi Pandor has repeated her previous
public statements that there is no plan to grant maternity leave to learners.
Expressing concern at the Sunday Times report on this, the Minister said it is
deliberately misleading and designed to confuse learners, teachers and
parents.
"The Department of Education has no plan to grant maternity leave to
learners," stressed Pandor.
Minister Pandor expressed her concern that a discarded draft document was
presented as Government Policy. This is despite the fact that the journalist
sought and was given clarity as to the status of the document by the Minister.
Despite this clarification, the journalist proceeded to write a story on the
grounds of "not letting the facts get in the way of a good story." We are aware
that journalists often operate under difficult deadlines but it is particularly
disappointing that a journalist who is considered to be a specialist education
journalist should succumb to this form of reporting.
The matter of learner pregnancy is a worrying issue that is under
investigation by the Department of Education. Any response will be addressed
within the context of the primary purpose of a school which is to educate our
children.
Enquiries:
Lunga Ngqengelele
Tel: (012) 312 5538
Cell: 082 556 0446
E-mail: ngqengelele.l@doe.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education
27 November 2006
