Peer education initiative aims to curb dropouts

Pregnancy among girls tops figures

ALMOST half of the pupils in the province who were doing Grade 10 in 2015 had dropped out by Grade 12 in 2017.

According to the provincial education department, of the 152 230 pupils who were in Grade 10 in 2015, only 82 257 managed to register for Grade 12 last year.

Speaking to the Saturday Dispatch, the department’s director of HIV/Aids and social planning, Zukiswa Njotini, said pupil pregnancy was one of the main causes of girls dropping out, while drugs and alcohol were the main causes of boys dropping out.

In an attempt to turn the corner, the department this week revived its peer education programme at this year’s annual youth conference held from June 27 until June 29 at the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth.

The conference, now in its 13th year, aims to address social ills that affect pupils such as HIV/Aids, teenage pregnancy, poverty and substance abuse.

About 700 pupils from high schools from across the province attended.

Njotini said that as much as the current policy on pupils pregnancy allowed pregnant pupils to stay in schools, the responsibilities that came with being a mother sometimes became too much for the girl pupil.

“Dropping out of school and finding work to support and raise the child becomes a better option for them,” said Njotini.

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has called for comment on proposed national policy that seeks to curb and manage pupil pregnancy in schools.

If passed, schools will be required to accommodate the reasonable needs of pregnant pupils to ensure that their right to education is not disrupted or ended by pregnancy or birth.

In cases where pregnant pupils have to be absent, the school will be required to keep their place in the system open and allow them to return and complete their education later.

Njotini also mentioned that dysfunctional families were one of the reasons why pupils dropped out of school.

“Some families are so dysfunctional that some children feel like they cannot cope at school,” said Njotini.

Njotini said the 700 pupils were empowered with skills to instill positive values and behavioural change to address the risky behaviour which came with peer pressure. —