The ANC has proposed "intervention measures" be put in place to reduce the high levels of pregnancies in schools. Picture: Lebohang Mashiloane
Image: Lebohang Mashiloane
AS NEW regulations for pregnant schoolgirls are finalised, school leaders call for greater parental involvement to ensure the well-being and academic progress of these pupils.
Dr Erna de Lange, chairperson of the KZN School Governing Body Foundation, said once regulations were in place, the implementation came with responsibility and accountability.
De Lange, who is also an education lecturer and former principal, said the regulations were “uncharted territory” for many schools.
“There is considerable pressure on the school to support the pupils, while the parents do not seem to have a similar responsibility. The role of the parents must be emphasised in the way forward.
“This is a road the parents must walk with the school. The parents must inform the school of the pupil’s condition. Pregnant pupils cover themselves in layers of clothing, and the school is often unaware of what the pupil is going through.
“It is not uncommon for parents to be oblivious to the pupil’s condition, but caring parents should know. The school will ensure academic progress as far as possible, but it must be noted that not all schools are able to supply booklets of content due to a limited paper budget,” De Lange added.
She said the forum was concerned regarding the extent to which the teachers are covered in terms of liability.
“When a pupil goes into labour at school, and the parents are not available, to what extent are the teachers covered?
“In an ideal world, the ambulance will arrive within the next few minutes, but we do not live in an ideal world. Not every pregnant pupil will go into labour in a classroom, but the regulations are vague on details.
“The school governing body (SGB) should include the details in their pregnancy policy, but cannot supersede the regulations. These regulations should include coverage for the school. It has become a trend to sue schools. There must be a line in the sand as to where the teacher’s responsibility ends, and the parents' responsibility starts.
“The role of parents in the pregnancy of their school-going child should be considered as an amendment to the Bela Bill. Too often, the school must carry the can. The draft regulations indicate yet another committee at the school level.
“Curriculum coverage is affected by all additions to the teacher’s original job description. This has become a labour issue, and unions should ensure that their members are covered.
“The SGBs would have to do the same for their employees. In conclusion, this is by no means a 'high school issue'.
“The statistics for 2024/25 show an alarming increase in births by 8- to 12-year-old girls. It is important that teachers, principals and parents comment on this draft.
Dr Jeeva Naidoo, a principal of a school in South Durban, said the policy on the prevention and management of pupil pregnancy did not speak to the prevention of pupil pregnancy in any way.
“It outlines the guidelines for schools to ensure that pregnant pupils are not discriminated against in any way. It also talks to the processes that schools must take after a pupil discloses that she is pregnant.
“The right to basic education, as enshrined in our Constitution, Act 108 of 1996, must be adhered to for all pupils. The protection and safety of pupils is also of paramount importance,” he added.
Naidoo said that schools were faced with added responsibilities to manage pregnant pupils, while already struggling to cope with being understaffed, and with funding issues.
“Schools must ensure that pregnant pupils are taken care of and protected. These pupils must not be labelled nor victimised in any way, and the policy elucidates the role of the school and the home in terms of the safety and schooling of pregnant pupils.
“It is equally important for these pupils to receive counselling and support before reintegration into the school environment. During the period of pregnancy, the pupil must be allowed to continue with normal learning, where possible. The parent must assist the school by providing them with the necessary medical reports on their health and welfare.
“Pupils must be allowed to receive the relevant counselling to help deal with the situation. The policy also provides guidelines to schools on how to deal with the various ways in which a pupil could possibly get impregnated.
“This policy is long overdue, and is a useful source of reference for all schools dealing with pupils who are sexually active, and run the risk of falling pregnant, or are pregnant,” Naidoo added.
Another principal, who did not want to be named, said the intention behind the new draft regulations on managing pregnant pupils at school, was commendable.
“Ensuring that young mothers are not excluded from education is a necessary and humane step toward a more inclusive school system. However, the practical implementation of this policy raises serious concerns that cannot be ignored.
“Teachers are already carrying an immense workload, balancing curriculum demands, administrative duties, extracurricular responsibilities, and pastoral care for pupils. The expectation that schools must now nominate a dedicated teacher, hold ongoing meetings with parents, draft contractual agreements, and design individualised educational programmes for pregnant pupils, adds a significant layer of responsibility to an already strained system,” the principal added.
She said while the goal of supporting pregnant pupils is important, the burden of this support could not fall solely on teachers who are neither trained nor resourced to provide such specialised care.
“Without additional staffing, proper training and clear institutional support, this draft regulations on managing pregnant pupils at school risk placing unrealistic expectations on teachers, potentially undermining both the quality of education and the well-being of staff.
“If this policy is to succeed, it must be accompanied by meaningful investment in schools, including access to counsellors, social workers and healthcare professionals who are better equipped to provide the necessary support.
“Otherwise, what is intended as a progressive reform may instead become another source of pressure in an already overburdened education system. Supporting pregnant pupils should be a shared societal responsibility, not one that is shifted disproportionately on to the teachers,” she added.