Question NW2189 to the Minister of Basic Education

Reply:

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 03/06/2022

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 22/2022

2189. Mrs D van der Walt (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education: to ask the Minister of Basic Education:

. (1) What (a) is the total number of girls who gave birth in 2021 in each province in each age group from 12 to 19 years and (b) monetary and/or otherwise support do the specified (i) learners and (ii) their children receive from her department; (2) what steps are being taken by her department to educate the learners with regard to the (a) long-term career implications, (b) monetary costs of raising a child and (c) implications of falling pregnant at a young age without finishing school?

Response

1. (a) According to data from the Department of Health, the total number of girls who gave birth in the 2021 financial year in each province in each age group from 12 to 19 years are provided below,  and

Province	Number of deliveries to girls aged 10-19 years (April 2021 - March 2022)
EC	12 582
FS	4 444
GT	13 814
KZN	24 230
LIM	11 287
MPU	8 840
NC	2 662
NW	5 635
WC	6 543
RSA	90 037

 

1. (b) Schools are required to provide an environment where all pregnant learners can access professional information advice, referrals, treatment, care, counselling and support. Therefore, other departments also have a role to play in ensuring that the pregnant learners are linked to services such as antenatal and postnatal care provided by the Health Department; and the Department of Social Development and SASSA for access to the Child Support Grant and other social support, amongst others. The department protects the rights of learners to education including continuation of schooling through accommodating reasonable absence due to pregnancy and provision of continuous educational support post-delivery while facilitating earliest return to school. Furthermore, through partners such as Global Fund, learners are given Early Childhood Development  (ECD) Vouchers so that they can leave their children in ECD Centres while the learner is continuing with schooling.

 2.  (a) The Comprehensive Sexuality Education that is offered through Life Skills and Life Orientation, educates all learners about goal setting and how they can reach their full potential. Furthermore, the department also holds Career Jamborees and Future Choice where learners get to see different career paths that they can choose.

 2. (b) and (c) The Career Jamborees and Future Choice campaigns are held with other government departments, including health. Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights information and services are provided, which includes content on the consequences of early and unintended pregnancy.