Over 8 000 learners give birth last year, not 90 000, says Mpumalanga education dept

The Mpumalanga Department of Education said reports that 90 000 learners had given birth in one year in the province were “false and misleading”.

To date, the department’s reports indicate roughly 8 542 15 to 19-year-old girls had given birth at health facilities between April 2021 and March 2022, Mpumalanga News reports.

Around 297 10 to 14-year-old girls gave birth during the same period.

Spokesperson for the department, Jasper Zwane said the 90 000 figure came from national statistics provided by the Department of Health, which was tabled before the Portfolio Committee on Education by the Ministry of Basic Education.

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On September 30, the department released a statement in which it said it has noted media reports regarding the statistics recorded of pregnancies involving girls of school-going age. 

Zwane said, however, that it was a concern for the department even if one learner gets pregnant.

“It is for this reason that the department continues to sensitise communities about the negative effects of learner pregnancy. A workshop was conducted last week to intensify the strategy to mitigate against this.

“Parts of the strategies of the comprehensive sexuality education that are being implemented by the department include, but they are not limited to, ensuring that learners gain the knowledge and skills to make conscious, healthy and respectful choices about relationships and sexuality.

“Providing an age-appropriate, culturally relevant and right-based approach to sexuality and relationships, addresses the issues of gender and power, and provides scientifically accurate and practical information in a non-judgemental way,” Zwane said during a learner pregnancy prevention and management policy workshop last month.

Edited by Nica Richards.

This article first appeared on Caxton publication Mpumalanga News’ website, by Bridget Mpande. Read the original article here.