The government recently published the new draft regulations setting out how schools should deal with pregnant pupils.
Image: Image:file
NEW draft regulations which aim to support pregnant pupils in schools by ensuring they have access to medical care, counselling, and a supportive learning environment, have been opened for public comment.
The government recently published the new draft regulations setting out how schools should deal with pregnant pupils.
Under the proposed rules, pregnant pupils would be allowed to stay in school during pregnancy and return after giving birth.
The regulations also make a mandatory requirement for schools to report pregnant pupil cases to social development and the police.
The regulations were first gazetted in December 2021 by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) with the aim of promoting the constitutional right of pupils to basic education by ensuring that they are not excluded from schools because of pregnancy and childbirth.
In addition, the policy mandated that schools provide a supportive and inclusive environment for pregnant pupils to continue and complete their education.
Department of Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said the regulations further required schools to foster a non-discriminatory and supportive environment for pregnant pupils.
“In partnership with the Department of Health and the Department of Social Development, schools will facilitate access to essential ante-natal, post-natal, and psychosocial support services.
“We have moved away from a painful past where young girls were expelled or forced out of school due to pregnancy. These practices contributed to alarmingly high drop-out rates. These regulations build on that progress and reaffirm our commitment to dignity, inclusion and equal opportunity,” she added.
The draft regulations also introduce a mandatory reporting requirement where if a pupil under the age of 16 years is pregnant, the school must report the matter to the Department of Social Development and to the police.
The regulations state that principals have a duty to manage and co-ordinate the process of assistance for pregnant pupils.
They also need to maintain confidentiality, and report to the school governing body (SGB) and the school-based support team if a pupil is pregnant, without necessarily divulging the name.
“When it is evident that a pupil is pregnant, the matter must be treated with great sensitivity and confidentiality. If the pregnancy is disclosed to a teacher or support staff, the official has a responsibility to inform the principal. The school must nominate a teacher and/or support staff to support the pupil,” the regulations stipulate.
Guidelines state that a nominated teacher must be engaged and/or support staff must establish the most effective way for the pupil to continue with learning.
This must be done in consultation with parents, school-based support teams, and the SGBs.
“The teacher in collaboration with the SGB, school-based support team and subject advisers must develop an individual support action plan. They must conduct a risk assessment to determine the potential risks; and determine how these risks can be addressed considering the health and education needs of the pupil.
“Throughout the pregnancy and the leave of absence of the pupil, a multistakeholder approach must be used to support the pupil.
“A support package for the pupil can consist of a range of multisectoral support provision that may not be equal in respect of their level of intensity. However, the support package must respond to the diverse needs of the pregnant pupil to ensure a way of making learning accessible to her.