The launch of the Learner Pregnancy Policy is set to take place on 9 December 2021.
Recently, the policy has been approved by Cabinet and will allow learners who fall pregnant during their schooling years to return to school sooner.
The Department of Basic Education has been working with other departments to develop an implementation plan of the policy, which should be seen from January 2022.
Drop out rates continue to increase not only due to the pandemic but also because of learner pregnancies.
Approximately 120 000 learners drop out of school each year because they have fallen pregnant and only a third return to school.
Muzi Ndlovu, the Health Promotion Director, announced that after the launch they plan to take the policy to the different provinces and to consult with other stakeholders.
Roadshows will be conducted in all provinces and the policy will be launched in those schools.
Ndlovu believes that it is an exciting time for the DBE as this has been a long-awaited policy, which will address the prevention of learner pregnancy and also assist the sector in managing learners pregnancies if they take place at schools.
The policy ensures that learners’ right to education is not infringed on.
