Addressing teenage pregnancy and sexual abuse in schools Hleki Mabunda Dept of Basic Education

 FOCUS: promoting clear understanding of the law against sexual harassment and sexual violence in public schools. Awareness raising initiatives include: –Popularizing Guidelines for Prevention and Management of Sexual Violence and Harassment in Public Schools (targeted at teachers and school management) –Popularizing the Speak Out Handbook (a learner focused guidebook for identifying, preventing and reporting sexual abuse) Future plans include: -Training of teachers to identify and appropriately respond to abuse and distressed children –A focus on parental involvement on dealing with sexual abuse at schools and communities –Conducting research on Sexual Violence and harassment in schools ADDRESSING SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

PART 2 TOWARDS A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY FOR PREVENTING AND MANAGING TEENAGE PREGNANCY IN SA (WITH EMPHASIS ON SCHOOL GOING LEARNERS)

BACKGROUND The Department commissioned a study in 2008: to review and critically analyze data with focus on learner pregnancy The research report – “Teenage pregnancy in SA- with specific focus on school going learners” was released at a National seminar on teenage pregnancy – August

RESEARCH FINDINGS IN BRIEF That there is a decline in teenage fertility; That remaining in the education system is a strong factor in preventing teenagers from falling pregnant. Thereby necessitating that we spare no effort in keeping young people at school, by contributing to fighting poverty, removing economic barriers to learning.– and to reintegrating drop out learners back into the schools system as soon as possible; That learner pregnancies are concentrated in Kwazulu- Natal, Eastern Cape as well as Limpopo provinces; thereby necessitating concerted efforts in these provinces;

RESEARCH FINDINGS IN BRIEF That learner pregnancies are more concentrated in schools located in poor neighbourhoods, schools that are under-resourced; and schools with a significant age differential / age mixing between learners That poor school performance, regular absenteeism, history of child sexual or physical abuse are strong risk factors to watch out for; and That there are cohorts of learners who remain uninformed and ill – informed about their sexuality, and the dangers of engaging in early and unprotected sexual activities

POST RESEARCH PROCESS Developing a comprehensive strategy preventing and managing teenage pregnancy in SA (with emphasis on school going learners) -Rights based -Multi–sectoral and Inter–departmental -This includeD setting up an inter-dept task team or a cluster sub-commitee (Health; Basic Education; Social Development; Sports and Recreation; Women, Youth, Children and Persons with Disability; and the NYDA)

Consultations Several inter-provincial committees (gender, race and values, school safety) Council of Education Ministers Portfolio Committee for Education National seminar (national and provincial departments, NGO’s, school principals, learners, teacher unions, schools governing body associations, etc) The Social Protection and Community Development Cluster Inter departmental forum, and SANAC PIC

Elements of the strategy: Prevention Cont.. Keeping young people in school - Basic Education - no fee schools, school nutrition programme, school safety, sexual harassment and sexual violence -Health - access to quality basic health care services, youth friendly clinics, accessible contraceptives -Social Development – social grants, support to orphaned children -Higher Education - accessible higher and further education opportunities for learners post matric (counter the chances for learners being vulnerable to early pregnancy)

Elements of the strategy: Prevention Cont.. Improving resourcing in schools -learner pregnancies are more concentrated in schools located in poor neighbourhoods, schools that are under-resourced (Kwazulu- Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo) -strengthen efforts to provide essential resources to public schools. This includes necessary infrastructure (classrooms, labs, water, sanitation), text books, availability of teachers for all subjects, other resources -Give priority to highly affected provinces

Elements of the strategy: Prevention Cont.. Improving access to sexuality education and awareness there are cohorts of learners who remain uninformed and ill – informed about their sexuality, and the dangers of engaging in early and unprotected sexual activities -implement age appropriate sexuality education programmes through the life skills programme -parents need to take a much more active role in educating their children about their sexuality -maximize opportunities to utilize mass media campaigns to educate learners of their sexuality and dangers of teen pregnancy -active involvement of other key stakeholders to leverage on their strengths and role in building society. These include the churches and traditional leaders, civil society organizations, etc

Elements of the strategy: Prevention Cont.. Develop and implement an early warning system -research states that poor school performance, regular absenteeism, and history of child sexual or physical abuse are strong risk factors to watch out for in order to preempt teenage pregnancy -this necessitates the need for development of an early warning system; through which educators and school principals can use to be able to identify children at risk – and be able to attend to through providing support resident in the school system, as well as referring them to other institutions of support

Elements of the strategy: Prevention Cont.. Resuscitate mobile clinic and social worker occasional visits to public schools -to conduct health screenings, educational programmes and sharing information on sexuality and other health related subjects -health officials would assist the schools to be able to determine learners that are pregnant -visits by social workers would respond to the needs of vulnerable learners, orphans, those who have a history of sexual and physical abuse (guard against dropout)

Elements of the strategy: Prevention Cont.. Involvement of teachers and teacher unions in preventing teenage pregnancy in public schools -There is concern that some educators engage in sexual relationships with learners -partnership with teacher unions and associations, to engage in a robust programme to raise awareness among educators of the implications of these acts -effective management of cases of sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools

Elements of the strategy: Prevention Cont.. Participation in extra curricula activities -extension of school hours -sport, and cultural activities (facilities, support) -improving the peer education programme -school clubs (GEM BEM, soul budyz, etc) to empower young people Advocacy and communication –ensuring that all understand policy, importance of protecting vulnerable learners and the response to teen pregnancy which is multi-faceted

Elements of the strategy: Management and support reintegrating drop out learners (due to pregnancy and child birth) back into the schools system as soon as possible (second chance opportunities) clearly defined catch-up programmes providing proper support to pregnant learners to ensure that they receive the necessary support during pregnancy provision of support to teenage mothers in caring for the children implementation some form of training on parenting, coupled with sexuality training

Policy and Administrative issues seamless policy on managing teenage pregnancy in schools is a necessity to ensure uniformity in a manner that schools respond to the situation is necessary (currently developing Ministerial Regulation on managing learner pregnancy) improving referral and support systems by strengthening links between schools and local health and social services

END THANK YOU