The DBE and the PEDs have taken a multi-sectoral approach to curb the scourge of Early and Unintended Pregnancies amongst girl learners in South African schools.  Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Dr Reginah Mhaule and Northern Cape MEC for Education, Mr Zolile Monakali, were left captivated as learners from schools in Kuruman and the surrounding area put Government to task in terms of bringing the culprits of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) to book. Learners urged the DBE to ensure that school communities, including parents, were informed about the appropriate channels and procedures to be followed in respect of reporting sexual offences. In its mission to involve learners as part of the solution to GBV, the DBE and the Northern Cape Department of Education organised the Let’s Talk Early and Unintended Pregnancy (EUP) Dialogue with learners at Gaegake Primary School in Kuruman on 8 May 2024.  More than 200 learners selected from Gaegake Primary School, K.P Toto Secondary School, Remmogo Secondary School, Gamohana Junior School, Lesedi Secondary School and Learamele Special School attended the Dialogue.

The Dialogue was conducted as part of the Let’s Talk EUP Campaign, aimed at supporting governments in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region to increase their efforts to reduce EUP. Following a Situational Analysis on EUP in the region commissioned by UNESCO, a Regional Campaign was launched in South Africa in July 2019 with the help of a Technical Coordinating Group (TCG) comprising of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); SaFAIDS, Save the Children Sweden and the SADC Regional Economic Development Communities. The South African Chapter of the launch of the EUP Campaign was held by Minister Motshekga at Mamelodi High School in Pretoria during November 2019.

MEC Monakali indicated that, as much as Government provided adequate support to the girl learner, it also acknowledges the role a boy learner could play in reducing EUP: “We need to ensure that our boys, young and older men are encouraged to play their part in the prevention of EUP. We need to engage them so that they can also take responsibility and make healthy choices by delaying sexual debut and not engaging in unprotected sexual activity and not force sexual activity upon girls”.

Deputy Minister Mhaule said that urgent intervention was required to address the alarming cases of pregnancies reported amongst adolescent girls and young women. “Recently the Department of Health reported alarming numbers of deliveries in health facilities, approximately 132,000 Adolescent Girls Young Women (AGYW) aged 10 to 19 years for the 2020/2021 financial year. These numbers are unacceptably high. We are cognisant of the many negative consequences of EUP on the girl child, in particular. The Basic Education Sector is particularly perturbed by these numbers more so for the girls between the ages of 10 to 14 years.  It must be noted that the age of consent to sexual intercourse is 16 years, which means that any adult person who engages in sexual intercourse with a minor should be charged with a statutory rape. Thus, it is quite worrying and concerning that we have children who are reported to have given birth from the age of 10 to 14 years, and we need to take drastic measures to protect our children and ensure the criminals who rape our children are brought to book! These cases need to be reported to the relevant officials and authorities. Girls, parents, guardians, friends and community members need to adopt a culture of reporting incidences of pregnancy to ensure that the girls receive the requisite support”.

She further encouraged learners to read the 2018 Protocols on the Reporting and Management of Sexual Abuse and Harassment in Schools for clear guidance, especially on reporting cases relating to sexual offences. “The DBE and key role players will work closely to strengthen the provision of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) through the curriculum. CSE provides learners with information, knowledge and skills to make informed choices with regard to their sexual reproductive health and reduce risky taking behaviour thus choose healthy lifestyles.  In addition, the Policy seeks to link learners to Sexual Reproductive Health Services (SRHS), care, counselling and support.  To ensure access and linkages to services, we will need to partner with the Departments of Health and Social Development as well as Civil Society and development partners,” added Deputy Minister Mahule.