Question NW2580 to the Minister of Social Development
19 September 2023 - NW2580
Manganye, Ms J to ask the Minister of Social Development
In light of the fact that the learner pregnancy rate and teenage pregnancies generally are at a concerning rate that necessitates the need for social support for young mothers, (a) how is her department contributing in dealing with teenage pregnancy issues in schools and (b) what are the details of the interventions and support given by her department to young mothers?
Reply:
a) Teenage pregnancy is a crosscutting issue that no single department or entity can resolve on its own. Government has developed the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP) championed by the Departments of Basic Education and Health. As part of the multisectoral strategy, DSD developed its own social behaviour change and prevention programme, which is implemented in schools across all 52 districts. The programme brings together all key partners—family, community, NGOs and faith-based organisations to comprehensively address this matter.
b) The services that the Department renders are guided by the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Departments of Health and Basic Education. Services include social workers collaborating with educators to identification and early interventions for learners in need of care and support and attending to referrals made by School Health Teams or School Based Support Teams.
Specific interventions include the implementation of Social and Behaviour Change programmes in schools, such as, You Only Live Once (YOLO) and ChommY that are school-based programmes. These programmes seek to create a safe and enabling environment in which young people can safely engage in discussion about HIV prevention and teenage pregnancy, and where positive values and quality decisions related to the sexuality of young people can emerge.
Information sharing, communication and awareness-facilitating dialogues with children and parents (in and out of school) through the Families Matter Programme, school debates on teenage pregnancy and its implications, as well as what could be done to curb teenage pregnancy.
National Assembly written Reply: 2580 of 2023
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Approved by the Minister of Social Development
Date……………………….