HEAD TEACHER ACCUSED OF HUMILIATING PREGNANT PUPIL

MBABANE – The glaring problems with implementing the policy allowing pregnant pupils to attend school have been exposed at a high school in the outskirts of Manzini.

This comes after one of the learners who is currently five months pregnant faced humiliation from her head teacher, who told her that she had to stand in front of the morning assembly and apologise to other learners for falling pregnant and also detail to them how she fell pregnant. The aim of the policy is to outline conditions under which pregnant learners, expectant fathers and learner-parents can continue with their education. It was in this regard that government announced that pregnant pupils should be allowed into class, without any discrimination. In 2021, a report on the Learner Prevention and Management Policy and Guidelines revealed that 1 760 pupils fell pregnant during the coronavirus pandemic. Worth noting is that in 2021 pupils did not attend classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the pupil’s mother *Nomsa, she said after her daughter reported that she was pregnant, she approached the head teacher and informed her on the developments. Nomsa said she reported her daughter’s pregnancy because she was avoiding a situation where the head teacher found out on her own, as she did not know how she would react. She said the school head stated that she would also update teachers about the matter. However, she said after a week, the head teacher called the pupil into her office and told her that she was expected to stand in front of everyone during morning assembly and tell other learners that she was pregnant and also narrate how the pregnancy happened and when. “After my daughter had informed me about this, I engaged her and told her that what the head teacher had done was against the law and that she should not do it."

She said indeed her daughter did not do as told by the head teacher but instead took her belongings and left the school on the day she was supposed to address her peers. Nomsa said as her daughter was leaving, two teachers questioned her on what the challenge was and she responded that she was told to stand before other learners to inform them about her pregnancy which she would not do in fear of embarrassment,” the mother narrated. Furthermore, she stated that while the child was returning home and troubled by what had happened to her, some women in her community called her and asked what had happened. These women, she said reported the incident to their Member of Parliament (MP) who is also the Minister of Education and Training, Lady Mabuza on the humiliation the learner had faced before the head teacher. She said a team from the regional education office (REO) arrived at the school and engaged them and told the child to return to class. Nomsa said the head teacher was however not present during the talks. Interviewed, the head teacher requested not to comment on the matter, stating that the REO’s office was currently handling it.

Minister

Minister Mabuza confirmed that the matter was reported to her and that she had instructed the office of the Manzini REO to sort it out. Mabuza stated that when she enquired from the head teacher, she admitted to have engaged the pupil on her pregnancy. “I then told the acting principal secretary (PS) to send officers from (REO) to attend to the matter,” said the minister. Mabuza said she further suggested that the team, as well as the head teacher should apologise to the pupil and her parents about the incident. Also, she said she told them to address the teachers at the school and other learners. She pointed out that there should be an understanding that the policy was new and that there would be teething problems experienced here and there. Mabuza pleaded with the nation, teachers and learners to work together and support each other in order for the policy to be well implemented. She said pregnant learners needed to visit the clinic constantly and should be released and also during birth. Regarding the matter, she said the head teacher was very wrong. However, she said the matter was handled well.
*Not real name to protect minor.

... Save the Children condemns act

MBABANE – Save the Children has frowned upon the actions of the head teacher who allegedly attempted make a pupil apologise for falling pregnant during assembly.

Director of Save the Children Dumisani Mnisi said the head teacher should be ashamed of herself for further exacerbating the humiliation that had already been suffered by the pupil by falling pregnant.  “Caregivers should not embarrass or belittle children but they should correct them in a dignified manner,” he said. Mnisi said teething problems with the policy were bound to surface because it was a fairly new position. He added that there was need to cooperate with authorities of the school and education space. The director noted that they could not expect to have the policy well received in its infant years. He further emphasised on the need to have all players help children refrain from falling pregnant, but if it occurs they should help the child not lose education.

Matter sorted, pupil back in class – REO

MBABANE – “The matter is under control and the pupil is back in class.”

The above statement was made by the Regional Education Officer (REO) in Manzini, Sizwe Kunene. Kunene said they engaged the parent, child and teachers at the school. He said the matter was corrected and the affected pupil only lost a few days of school.

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