23 Mar 2017

The adolescent fertility rate in Botswana is estimated at 51 births per 1000 women aged 15-19 years and the trend continues to rise.

Answering a question in Parliament on March 22, Assistant Minister of Basic Education, Mr Fidelis Molao said in 2016 the ministry in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) conducted a rapid study to determine the rate of drop out due to pregnancy and causes of such pregnancy.

“For the year 2016, we had six drop outs of 16 536 in pre-primary, 271 out of 315 261 in primary school, 1 194 out of 116 068 in junior secondary and 477 out of 57 203 in senior secondary,” said Mr Molao.

He said this was a critical step in the development of comprehensive and informed strategy for managing teenage pregnancy in schools, which the ministry is currently working on.

Mr Molao said the ministry continues to address to address issues of teenage pregnancy.

“At school levels students are taught about pregnancy during Guidance and Counselling lessons. The topic is infused in subjects such as Integrated Science, Biology, Food and Nutrition and Moral Education where the issues are covered extensively,” he said.

He noted that students were also exposed to psycho-social developmental issues, including teenage pregnancy in club activities such as Peer Assisted Counselling by Teens, teenage mothers as well as the Girls and Boys in Education movement.

Mr Molao further said schools also hosted school assemblies and other meetings specifically designed to promote students dialogue on teenage pregnancy, where some NGOs have partnered with schools to empower students on causes and consequences of teenage pregnancy.

“A Comprehensive Sexuality Education programme is being piloted in Central, Kweneng West, North West and Ghanzi. This programme is designed to close communication gaps between teachers and students and parents and children on issues of sexuality and the related dangers of teenage pregnancy,” he concluded.

Member of Parliament for Francistown East, Mr Buti Billy had asked the minister to brief parliament on the new steps his ministry was taking to reduce issues of teenage pregnancy in schools. ENDS