The Lejweleputswa, Mangaung, and Thabo Mofutsanyane districts present the highest rates of pregnancies amongst learners in the province.
The statistics, presented during the Provincial Learner Pregnancy Summit held by the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) in partnership with the Free Department of Education, show the Free State has a 13,3% rate of pregnancies involving children between the ages of ten and 14 years.
These findings were according to the national department of health’s records for the 2021/’22 period.
It was also stated that some learners fall pregnant before starting their periods. This is an alarming situation to the department, considering that there is also a serious challenge of underreported cases by schools on the education management information system (EMIS).
Adv Tsoarelo Malakoane said the department must extinguish not just the flames, but the source of learner pregnancy in the schools. Through the commissions in the summit, they must produce a document that will provide real involvement with a clear plan of action on how to eliminate pregnancies in schools.
The provincial secretary of Sadtu, Mokholoani Moloi, spoke of the organisation’s concern over learner pregnancies and stated that they take this pandemic seriously as it impacts how teachers perform their duties.
“We need to inculcate an attitude of love for our people and culture. Learners and their parents need to understand that their lives impact them, and even greatly on their future prospects. Teenage pregnancy is one of many reflections of the communities our learners are raised in,” said Makalo Mohale, MEC for the provincial department of education.
