78 pregnant pupils in Cape primary schools last year

AN INCREASE of 14.3 percent in pregnancies among schoolgirls occurred in the province by the end of the last academic year, with 78 pupils still in primary school.

Data by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) revealed 2 851 pupils in the province fell pregnant while at school last year – an increase from 2 493 in 2013.

Education MEC Debbie Debbie Schäfer’s spokeswoman, Jessica Shelver, said 78 were in primary school. Five pupils in Grade 5 were the youngest to have been reported pregnant.

But Sonke Gender Justice spokesman Mbuyiselo Botha said the young girls should not be solely criticised. Botha said many of the fathers were still in school.

“Society always focuses on the girl. Many parents or guardians consider sex talk to be shameful. As a result, sex education for boys is virtually non-existent,” Botha said.

He encouraged young men to talk to someone with whom they felt comfortable discussing their sexuality.

National figures reveal that 20 833 pupils fell pregnant in schools across the country last year, of which 717 were in primary school.

Shelver said the department had implemented the Managing Learner Pregnancy in Public Schools policy, which gave guidelines on how schools should support pregnant pupils. The aim was to ensure that pupils completed school.

Child Welfare investigations manager Desiree Uys said the organisation was suspicious of sexual abuse regarding the five Grade 5 pupils who fell pregnant last year.

Shelver said pupils could contact the Safe Schools call centre at 0800 454 647 for advice.