WCED addressed learner pregnancy

Loyiso Langeni

07 March 2013

The Western Cape Department of Education has confirmed that about 2 097 pupils fell pregnant in 2011, compared with 2 108 pupils in 2010.

Departmental Spokesperson Paddy Attwell said the Cape Winelands District reported the highest number of learner pregnancies in 2011.

Attwell said the number represented about 1.2% of the female leaner population in our high school.

“Obviously we are deeply concerned about the pregnancy does affect the learner’s life” Attwell added.

Attwell also said that the burden had developed a policy meant to manage learner pregnancy in public school that will provide step by step guidelines to schools on how they should manage leaner pregnancy.

Attwell the aim of the policy is to ensure pregnancy learners stay at school and complete their schooling.