NAPTOSA welcomes new policy on pregnancy in schools
The National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA) says it hopes the new policy on pregnancy in schools will help bring down the number of teenage pregnancies.
The union was reacting to the Department of Education's new policy forcing schools to report any cases of pregnancy to the police if the pupil is under the age of 16 and the father is older than 16.
The new basic education pregnancy policy will be implemented from January next year.
According to Stats SA, 34 587 babies were born to girls aged 17 and younger in 2020.
NAPTOSA's Basil Manuel says while the aim of the new rule is meant to protect the pupils, there are a lot of layers teachers will have to deal with.
"Our teachers need training and advocacy to deal with this matter and especially our school principals and that of course we also need to see that we have sufficient police to follow up on all cases case that are reported.
"Because if you don't have the follow up and the support of various resources such as counsellors then this is another policy on paper so whist we support it we will also be knocking on the door of the department to say how do we give life to this policy?"
