How new regulations in South Africa aim to assist pregnant learners
Department of Basic Education proposes new regulations to support pregnant learners in South African schools.
Image: Johnnie van Niekerk
Principals and teachers will have to play a significant role in ensuring the schooling careers of young girls are not derailed by pregnancy.
This directive is contained in a set of draft regulations put forward by the Department of Basic Education, currently out for public comment.
The regulations highlight the role that must be played by the school and the responsibilities of the principal, once a girl is pregnant.
They have been welcomed by social justice experts who say the regulations will provide guidance to schools in handling pregnancy.
However, they warned that it could also place additional strain on teachers who are not trained to deal with medical situations.
“A learner must be informed in writing of the dates when the formal assessment tasks, including controlled tests and examinations, are to be administered in the subjects for which the learner is enrolled,” said the document.
It added that, "a learner must write examinations and be assessed in the same examination assessment room as other learners unless a medical note advises otherwise, in which case necessary arrangements and assistance must be provided."
The regulations points out that there must be a district-level support team that will take reasonable measures to protect the rights of learners to basic education, advising on alternative methods for accommodating learners during pregnancy and after childbirth.
This team will lead and oversee the process of managing learner pregnancy by mobilising resources and supporting schools to enable access to professional advice, referral, and support.
The regulations state that for learners between grades 4 and 11 who are unable to write or complete the end-of-year final examination and who have provided the school with a report justifying the leave of absence, they must obtain a mark based on their school-based assessments and practical assessment marks.
The regulations state that a principal may not de-register a learner because they are pregnant.
“And through the school-based support team, develop an individual support plan for the learner. It must be developed in consultation with the learner and the parents,” it reads.
A parent spoke of the need for these regulations.
Bhekisisa Mncube said in an interview he had written to the department complaining after his child was asked to stay home after falling pregnant.
“To date, I have not received a response, I cannot say they are not doing anything (working to address the situation) but as we speak, my child is sitting at home.”
Social justice activist Hendrick Makaneta said that before these draft regulations, there had not been clear policy guidelines on how schools should conduct themselves in relation to pregnant learners.
He noted that the regulation “in one way, places additional strain on teachers who are trained to deal mainly with issues of the curriculum and not healthcare matters. There should be greater collaboration between the schools and the Health Department.”