POLITICS

717 girls in primary school fell pregnant in 2013/14 - Sonja Boshoff

DA MP says a further 20 116 learners in secondary schools fell pregnant during same period

20 000 pregnant school children requires urgent DBE policy response

25 March 2015

reply to a DA parliamentary question has revealed that 20 000 children in primary and secondary school fell pregnant last year.

I will write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Ms Nomalungelo Gina, to summon the Basic Education Minister, Ms Angie Motshekga, for a parliamentary briefing on the Department's plans to discourage teenage pregnancy.

The most recent five-year strategic plan suggests that the DBE has started work on a pregnancy policy but there does not seem to be any urgency to implement it.

Family planning services, incentives to complete education before falling pregnant, and public education programmes to discourage intergenerational and unprotected sex all form part of these urgently required plans. 

What is of further concern is that the number of girls who return to school after having their babies is not known. 

Education is key to future success and without it, these young people will not have a fair chance at a better life.

Recent remarks by President Zuma that teenage mothers should be separated from their children and banished to Robben Island are irresponsible and offer no constructive contribution on how to tackle this issue.

The DBE would do well to emulate the Western Cape Department of Education (WCED) which has developed a policy on Managing Pregnancy in Public Schools designed to ensure that pregnant learners complete their schooling.

The policy provides step-by-step guidelines to schools on how to manage learner pregnancy and the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved, including the learner, the learner's parents, the father, if the father is another learner, and the school. The Department treats pregnant learners sensitively with access to counselling by social workers and psychologists based in district offices.

The WCED also works with other departments such as Health and Social Development to provide appropriate support.

Teenage pregnancy is a serious problem in South Africa and must be constructively and comprehensively addressed. 

The DBE has a responsibility to the children of this country and should urgently institute plans aimed at decreasing the incidence of pregnancy in schools.

Text of the parliamentary reply:

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION 433

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 27/02/2015

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 04/2015

433. Ms H S Boshoff (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:

(1) In respect of each specified province, what is the total number of learners in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools who fell pregnant (i) in the 2013-14 financial year and (ii) from 1 April 2014 up to the latest specified date for which information is available;

(2) in respect of each specified province, how many of these learners in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools have returned to school;

(3) in respect of each specified province, (a) which 10 (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools have recorded the highest number of pregnancies and (b) in each specified case what was the number of pregnancies in the (i) 2013-14 financial year and (ii) from 1 April 2014 up to the latest specified date for which information is available;

(4) in respect of each specified province, how many pregnancy cases have been reported by schools to the SA Police Service due to sexual abuse or statutory rape (a) in the 2013-14 financial year and (b) from 1 April 2014 up to the latest specified date for which information is available? NW509E

(1)  In respect of each specified province, what is the total number of learners in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools who fell pregnant (i) in the 2013-14 financial year and (ii) from 1 April 2014 up to the latest specified date for which information is available;

RESPONSE: Provided in table 1 below:

Table 1: Number of learners who fell pregnant, by province and grade

 

2013-2014 FY*

2014 to latest

Province

Learners in primary schools

Learners in secondary schools

Data for 2014/15 is not yet available

EC

232

3 898

FS

13

325

GT

64

5 209

KZ

84

2 993

LP

32

1 009

MP

130

3 196

NC

65

775

NW

14

278

WC

83

2 433

National

717

20 116

Source: Education Management Information System

*Note: DBE collects and reports data according to the calendar year, and not per financial year as it has been asked in the Parliamentary Question.

(2)    In respect of each specified province, how many of these learners in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools have returned to school;

Reply: This information is currently not available. The Department does not collect data on pregnant learners that return to school.

(3)    In respect of each specified province, (a) which 10 (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools have recorded the highest number of pregnancies and (b) in each specified case what was the number of pregnancies in the (i) 2013-14 financial year and (ii) from 1 April 2014 up to the latest specified date for which information is available;

RESPONSE

3. The response is provided in Tables 2 and 3 below:

Table 2: Primary schools with the highest number of pregnant learners, by province

 

(a) (i) Primary Schools

(b) (i) 2013-2014

(b) (ii) 2014-2015

Province

School Name

Number of learners

Data is not yet available

EC

Tienbank Primary School

7

EC

Governor's Drift Primary School

5

EC

St Judes Primary School

5

EC

Rietberg Primary School

4

EC

Vusumzi Primary School

4

EC

Emmanuel Primary School

4

EC

Bekisizwe Junior Primary School

3

EC

Zilinyama Junior Primary School

2

EC

Jubilee Park Primary School

2

EC

Lukhanyo Senior Primary School

2

FS

Ditholwana Primary School

1

FS

Lovedale Primary School

1

FS

Kearabetswe Primary School

1

FS

Mofulatshepe Primary School

1

FS

Poonyane Primary School

1

FS

Matima-Lenyora Primary School

1

FS

Le Roux Primary School

1

FS

Bothobapelo Primary School

1

FS

Adeline Meje Primary School

1

FS

Boliba Primary School

1

GT

Mpumelelo Primary School

4

GT

Thabotona Primary Farm School

4

GT

Thembelihle Primary School

2

GT

Sazakhela Primary School

2

GT

Umtholo Primary School

2

GT

Tamaho Primary School

2

GT

Tshepisa Primary School

2

GT

Kulani Primary School

2

GT

Balebogeng Primary School

1

GT

West Rand Primary Mine School

1

KZ

Kandaspunt Primary School

12

KZ

Enyathi Primary School

5

KZ

Kosi Bay Primary School

4

KZ

St Pauls Primary School

2

KZ

Kwaphuza Senior Primary

2

KZ

Khethamahle Senior Primary

2

KZ

Emngqobelweni Primary School

2

KZ

Lootshoek Primary School

2

KZ

Ebuhlenibenkosi Primary School

2

KZ

Mandlakazulu Primary School

2

LP

Faza Primary School

5

LP

Makushu Primary School

5

LP

Valdezia Higher Primary School

3

LP

Khomisani Primary School

2

LP

B.B. Matlaila Primary School

2

LP

Spa Park Primary School

2

LP

Tshikonela Primary School

1

LP

Mphakati Primary School

1

LP

Pembelani Primary School

1

LP

Totwana Primary School

1

MP

Matimba Primary School

11

MP

Laerskool Elandslaagte

5

MP

Inkhambeni Primary School

4

MP

Phakani Primary School

4

MP

Sizuzile Primary School

4

MP

KT Twala Primary School

13

 

MP

Khokhovela Higher Primary School

3

MP

Sukumani Primary School

3

MP

Violet Jiyane Junior Primary School

4

MP

Rorobhani Primary School

4

NW

Vaal Reefs Technical

5

 

NW

Morokweng Primary School

1

 

NW

Tlhabane West Primary

1

 

NW

Rantebeng Primary School

1

Data is not yet available

NW

Retshegeditse Primary School

1

 

NC

Dl Jansen Primêre Skool

1

 

NC

Rietrivier Primary School

1

 

NC

Letshego Primary School

1

 

NC

Beacon Primary School

1

 

NC

Laerskool Vooruitsig

1

 

NC

Philipvale Primêre Skool

1

 

NC

Laerskool Groblershoop

1

 

NC

Asmandia Primary School

2

 

NC

Assmang Primêre Skool

1

 

NC

Deben Primêre Skool

1

 

WC

Moshesh Primary School

4

 

WC

Trevor Manuel Primary School

2

 

WC

Prins Albert Primary School

2

 

WC

Vlottenburg Primary School

2

 

WC

St. Michael's Primary School

2

 

WC

Northwood Primary School

2

 

WC

Wallacedene Primary School

2

 

WC

Noxolo Xauka Primary School

2

 

WC

Academia Primary School

1

 

WC

Sunray Primary School

1

 

Source: Education Management Information System

Table 3: Primary schools with the highest number of pregnant learners, by province

 

(a)    (ii) Secondary schools

(b) (i) 2013-2014

(ii) 2014-2015

Province

School Name

Number of learners

 

Data is not yet available

Data is not yet available

 

EC

Sophathisana Secondary School

74

EC

Toli Secondary School

56

EC

Lutshaya Senior Secondary School

51

EC

Sinolwazi Senior Secondary School

31

EC

John Noah High School

32

EC

Sandi Senior Secondary School

34

EC

E N Seku Secondary School

35

EC

Ngangolwandle Senior Secondary School

39

EC

Elliotdale Tech Senior Secondary School

40

EC

Mosa Sibi Senior Secondary School

40

FS

Sediba-Thuto Senior Secondary

17

FS

Phetogane Senior Secondary

17

FS

Strydom Senior Secondary

17

FS

Sehunelo Senior Secondary

17

FS

Mamellang-Thuto Senior Secondary

16

FS

Ntsu Senior Secondary

15

FS

Ithabiseng Senior Secondary

15

FS

Seemahale Secondary Secondary

15

FS

Bloemfontein Senior Secondary

12

GT

Davey Secondary School

51

GT

Botebo-Tsebo Secondary School

48

GT

Esokwazi Secondary School

51

GT

Ivory Park Secondary School

48

GT

Winile Secondary School

41

GT

Kwabhekilanga Secondary School

37

GT

Hofmeyr Secondary School

36

GT

Reshogofaditswe Secondary School

33

GT

Strauss Secondary School

32

GT

Jabulile Secondary School

32

KZ

Mahlabathini Secondary School

45

KZ

Langazela High School

45

KZ

Umfolozi High School

35

KZ

Mayville Secondary School

34

KZ

Matamzana Dube Secondary School

33

KZ

Ngali Secondary School

29

KZ

Thathunyawo Secondary School

29

KZ

Woodhurst Secondary School

28

KZ

Bonguzwane Secondary School

27

KZ

Phumanyova High School

27

MP

Mathipe Secondary School

49

MP

Seme Secondary School

77

MP

Msinyane Combined Secondary School

47

MP

Makause Combined School

43

Data is not yet available

MP

Lambalati Secondary School

42

MP

Chayaza Secondary School

41

MP

Camalaza Secondary School

41

MP

M.L. Nkuna High School

39

MP

Sitintile Secondary School

37

MP

Amadlelo Aluhlaza Secondary School

36

NC

Remmogo Secondary School

40

Data is not yet available

NC

Aj Ferreira Sekondêre Skool

27

NC

Boresetse Secondary School

27

NC

Kegomoditswe Secondary School

24

NC

William Pescod Secondary School

23

NC

Langberg High School

20

NC

Weslaan Sekondêre Skool

20

NC

Gariep High School

20

NC

Ba Ga Lotlhare Intermediate School

20

NW

G.S.Phoi High School

14

NW

Maselwanyane High School

9

NW

Mmankala Tech & Comm

8

NW

Phatsima High School

8

NW

Alabama Secondary School

7

NW

Danville Secondary School

6

NW

Bopaganang Secondary School

5

NW

G.S.Phoi High School

5

NW

Noto Secondary School

5

NW

Tlhapi Moruwe Secondary School

5

WC

Worcester Sekondere Skool

38

WC

Wolseley Sekondere Skool

36

WC

Forest Heights High School

31

WC

Thembalethu Secondary School

30

WC

Voorbrug Sekondere Skool

30

WC

Lavender Hill Secondary School

27

WC

Schoonspruit Sekondere Skool

26

WC

Zola Senior Secondary School

25

WC

Indwe Secondary School

25

WC

Ihlumelo Junior Secondary School

24

Source: Education Management Information System

(4)    In respect of each specified province, how many pregnancy cases have been reported to the SA Police Service due to sexual abuse or statutory rape (a) in the 2013-14 financial year and (b) from 1 April 2014 up to the latest specified date for which information is available?

RESPONSE

4. This information is currently not available. The Department does not collect data on reported cases of sexual abuse or statutory rape in both financial years. NW509E

ENDS

Statement issued by Sonja Boshoff MP, DA Member on Basic Education Portfolio Committee, March 25 2015

 

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