FORM V GIRL GOES INTO LABOUR IN EXAM ROOM

NHLANGANO – An expectant girl shocked unsuspecting pupils and teachers inside an exam room when she suddenly went into labour.

The drama unfolded at Nhlangano Central High School when the candidate suddenly experienced labour pains in the middle of an exam. The incident occurred when pupils, together with private candidates writing at the school, were sitting for one of the papers in the ongoing Form V examinations. The girl had to be rushed to the Nhlangano Health Centre where she eventually delivered her baby, according to sources. As a result of her condition, the young girl was not able to finish her paper. Information gathered was that the private female candidate had not anticipated that she would give birth on the day even though she knew about her pregnancy. When she arrived at the school, which is also used by her private institution as an examination centre last Friday, she just joined other candidates inside the exam room without raising any suspicion. However, something strange reportedly happened to her while the exam was in progress. She later reported she was experiencing labour pains. This caused some commotion inside the exam room as teachers had to rush to her aid. An ambulance had to be called to the school.

Witnesses said paramedics who arrived at the school thereafter found the girl in a sitting position outside the exam room, with teachers giving assistance. She was whisked to hospital where she eventually gave birth. The Head teacher of the school, Mlondi Mkhonta, confirmed the dramatic incident when contacted yesterday. However, he said he was not in a position to give further details as he was not available at the school when the incident occurred. “I heard about it. I gathered the matter concerned a private candidate, so the details I have are very sketchy. We have no records about her,” explained Mkhonta. A relative who was contacted could not provide details either. Instead, she insisted it was a private and confidential matter. When approached for comment yesterday, Exams Council Registrar Edmund Mazibuko described the incident as unusual. Even though he conceded there were incidents where pupils fell ill while exams were underway, he said giving birth during an exam was a bit complicated.

He explained that in the case of those who fell ill while an exam was in progress, it could be possible to make arrangements for the affected candidates to sit for their next papers in hospital. However, he said because giving birth involved a long process, it might prove difficult to make the same arrangement. “The most basic thing in an exam is to ensure that no candidate gets unfair advantage over others. So a special arrangement for such a candidate cannot be possible under the circumstances,” he explained. Meanwhile, Shiselweni Regional Education Officer Thabile Nxumalo insisted that government policy encourages girls to complete their education. She said girls were allowed back into the schooling system once they have been able to raise their babies.

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