Teenage Pregnancy and School Attendance The expulsion or exclusion of young women from school as a result of pregnancy is an unfair and unjust practice. Such practices are sexually discriminatory. Schoolgirls who become pregnant require support and assistance. They have to deal with the responsibilities of motherhood and to complete their studies. Young fathers need to be responsible for the well-being of their partners and offspring. The National Youth Policy proposes that: the national Department of education revise its current approaches and practices regarding pregnant students; a detailed policy is developed to address the issue; such policy should identify ways in which young pregnant students can be supported in completing their studies; it should also consider the potential roles and responsibilities of the father, particularly where the father is also a student. These proposals have already been accepted in The Schools Act, (Editor) QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT Answer the following questions: Do you think pregnant students should be allowed in school? What should the roles and responsibilities of young men who impregnate young school girls be? Give some ideas for preventing school teenage pregnancy.

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