Policy to reintegrate adolescent mothers in school system highlighted

Apr 20, 2018 News

…as Regional Education Officers’ Retreat gets underway

Data shows that in every one fifth of pregnancies in Guyana, one involves a teenager.
This was the informed disclosure of Ms. Jewell Crosse, Youth and Adolescent Development Officer attached to the United Nations Children Fund [UNICEF]. Her revelation was forthcoming on Wednesday as she addressed the Regional Education Officers [REdOs] Retreat being held this year in Mahdia, Region Eight [Potaro Siparuni].
The event is one that has attracted the attendance of REdOs from the 11 education districts across Guyana. The officials were on Wednesday introduced to and briefed on the draft policy for the re-integration of adolescent mothers into the formal school system.
Presenting on the policy were Crosse, and Health and Family Life Education [HFLE] Coordinator within the Ministry of Education, Ms. Colleen King-Cameron.
During Ms. Crosse’s presentation, the REdOs were further apprised about some of the causes of pregnancy among adolescents which include poverty, peer pressure, sexual abuse, lack of sexual education and low self-esteem.

Jewell Crosse speaking to the REdOs at the meeting

Ms. Colleen King-Cameron making her presentation

Crosse moreover highlighted the importance of the implementation of a policy, and went on to share some of her experiences across Guyana on the subject matter.
She however noted that addressing the issue of adolescent pregnancy requires a multi-agency approach that would include a number of government Ministries such as the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Social Protection, among others.
Among the issues discussed were the steps which can be taken when treating with cases of pregnant adolescents. Some of the steps that were highlighted include a psycho-social intervention with the child and involving parents or guardians in the process to chart a course forward. Similar steps are slated to be taken with the father of a child, if he is a student as well.
According to Crosse, counselling and support has been identified as a service that should be provided to all parties involved.
Meanwhile, HFLE Coordinator, Ms. King-Cameron, highlighted some of the measures that are necessary for the successful implementation of the draft policy. Some of these measures include providing a supportive environment that ensures teachers, students and general school staffs are sensitized to the needs of the adolescent child and advocacy on the right to and benefits of education.
During the presentations, the benefits of re-integration were also discussed. It was explained that through re-integration, adolescent mothers will be given the opportunity to complete their secondary education, increase their chances of pursuing tertiary-level education, and that re-integration can help to break the cycle of poverty, break inter-generational cycle of adolescent pregnancy and afford them their right to an education.
The draft policy is essentially geared towards the prevention of adolescent pregnancy, treating with pregnant adolescents, and administering the re-integration process of adolescent mothers into the formal school system.

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