Parliament, Friday, 26 July 2024 – The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Ms Joy Maimela, has noted reports of a Grade 10 learner giving birth in the toilet at Molautsi Secondary School, outside Polokwane in Limpopo.
It has been reported that the 16-year-old, who was reportedly seven months pregnant, delivered the baby without any help earlier this week on the school premises.
Said Ms Maimela: “It is concerning that such an incident happened in a school toilet. It is even more worrying that the learner delivered the baby without assistance. It is dangerous for both the mother and the child.”
She urged the Limpopo Department of Education to investigate whether the school was aware that the learner was pregnant and, if so, why the information was not captured on the system. “The committee noted that the provincial education department had not been notified that the learner was pregnant and that no such information about the learner’s pregnancy existed in the school management systems, as should be the case.
“The committee would like to appeal to schools to follow the rules, especially when a life can be in danger. We appeal to all nine provincial education departments and schools to continue raising awareness of teenage pregnancy through the curriculum and other extracurricular activities.”
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION, JOY MAIMELA
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