Question NW2159 to the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
12 June 2023 - NW2159
Ngcobo, Mr SL to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1) With reference to her reply to question 2189 on 23 June 2022, wherein she revealed that close to 91 000 learners fell pregnant in the year 2021 which inevitably has a negative impact on such learners’ schooling going forward, what other programmes, apart from basic sex-education offered in schools, has her department embarked on to bring the figure down and ensure that barriers in girls’ education are removed; (2) whether there will be any interdepartmental co-operation between her department, the Department of Health and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, amongst others, in bringing back television shows and programmes such as loveLife, Soul Buddyz and Soul City which are aimed at educating the youth on practicing safer sexual behaviours; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant detail?
Reply:
(1) In addition to sexuality education offered through Life Skills and Life Orientation, the department offers care and support programmes to mitigate barriers to teaching and learning and ensure that learners are retained in school to complete basic education. These includes amongst other but not limited to Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP), National School Safety Programme , National School Nutrition Programme, Peer Education programmes, School Sport, Arts, and Culture programmes.
(2) The department continues to collaborate with sister departments including Sports Arts and Culture, Health, Social Development, South African Police Services to mention a few. The collaboration with Soul City and loveLife continues through the Adolescents and Young People (AYP) programme.