Girl (17) goes into labour during matric exam

“Fortunately, the paramedics promptly responded and waited for about 30 minutes for the said learner to complete her exam paper."

October 31, 2019

Doreen Mokgolo 2 minutes read

Thabo Dlamini: We all have to remember that we are dealing with the life of the mother and the child. Their safety is important. Teachers are not trained to deal with such complications.

Tsakane – A 17-year-old pregnant Grade 12 learner from Tsakane Secondary School gave birth during a maths literacy exam paper last Friday.

The mother was rushed to a local hospital by paramedics after she ignored her labour pains to complete her exam.

The events were confirmed by the Gauteng MEC for Basic Education, Panyaza Lesufi, on his Twitter account on Friday afternoon.

Buti Cindi: Pregnant learners should be barred from going to school until after giving birth. Teachers are not trained to be nurses.

In the statement released by the Department of Basic Education’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, the learner started experiencing contractions while writing in the main exam room.

“After refusing to leave the exam centre for medical intervention, she was subsequently moved to a private office, where she continued to write under excruciating labour pains.

“Fortunately, the paramedics promptly responded and waited for about 30 minutes for the said learner to complete her exam paper.

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“She was then taken to a local hospital, where she received the necessary medical attention and gave birth,” he says.

Mabona adds that administrative processes will be facilitated by the department to ensure that the learner writes all her outstanding papers.

“From our perspective, young people should delay their first sexual experiences.

“It is not our wish that they give birth while still at school because the responsibility of parenthood impacts negatively on their ability to continue with their studies.

Jabu Sithole: We cannot allow pregnant learners to continue with their studies because it is dangerous and would be traumatic for them and fellow learners.

“Policy allows learners to stay at school while pregnant and return after giving birth.

“We have a number of programmes to discourage early sexual activity, which include life orientation programmes that focus on overall personal well-being.

“We have awareness campaigns that include the doll project in high-risk schools, as well as mother-daughter dialogues which help teenagers and mothers to talk more openly about issues of sexuality,” he adds.

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Learner gives birth during grade 12 exam

One Strong Voice Foundation media and communications manager Chris Kope says as an organisation, they are concerned about the ever-increasing number of girls falling pregnant while still in school.

“This shows there is something broken in our society, and through working together as a community, civil rights organisations and the Department of Basic Education, we will be able to fight this.

Zanele Mpisana: Pregnant learners must stop going to school in the last month of their pregnancy. By continuing with their schooling, they are putting their lives and that of the baby in danger.

“We are calling on the MEC to give whatever support needed to help accommodate the learner and those who were traumatised during the incident,” he says.

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