Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education
in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education in the Faculty of Education at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2012. / The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect pregnancy has on a schoolgirl’s education. The focus was on secondary schools in the Pietermaritzburg district in KwaZulu-Natal.
An introductory literature review was provided of the reasons for the high prevalence of pregnancy amongst schoolgirls. Research conducted during 2011 in South Africa has found that by the age of 18 years more than thirty percent (31,5%) of girls have given birth at least once. At a meeting on June 2012, the MEC for education in KwaZulu-Natal acknowledged that schoolgirls are falling pregnant in their thousands. Conditions under which the problem of schoolgirl pregnancy occurs is not homogeneous and may vary from one demographic background to another. Schoolgirl pregnancy is mostly associated with frequent sex without reliable or no contraception, peer pressure, inadequate knowledge about sexuality, sexual coercion, proof of fertility, poor socio-economic conditions and promiscuity.
Schoolgirl pregnancy affects the educational success of most teenage girls in South Africa. Although a schoolgirl is allowed to return to school after the birth of her baby she is faced with many challenges in trying to cope with the demands of motherhood and schooling simultaneously. Therefore many pregnant girls drop out of school and continue the poverty cycle in which they are trapped. Research has established that pregnancy and motherhood have a profound impact on the mother and child by placing limits on her educational achievement and economic stability as well as predisposing her to single parenthood.
For the purpose of the empirical investigation a self-structured questionnaire was utilized to obtain educators perceptions concerning the effect of pregnancy on a schoolgirl’s education. A quantitative descriptive analysis was undertaken of the completed questionnaires.
In conclusion a summary of the study and findings emanating from the literature and empirical investigation were presented. Based on these findings the following recommendations were made:
• The Department of Education must ensure that an effective sexuality programme is offered at all schools. The programme should focus on prevention of pregnancy and second chance opportunities for schoolgirl mothers.
• The government in collaboration with education departments should establish health clinics that are linked to schools.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uzulu/oai:uzspace.unizulu.ac.za:10530/1238 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Sibeko, Princess Gugu |
| Contributors | Vos, M.S. |
| Publisher | University of Zululand |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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