THE 17 pregnant pupils at Barolong High School in the North West seem to be just a drop in the ocean.
After Sowetan's report last week, many schools in the area have been found to have a high number of pregnant pupils.
An official in the health department said they had found out there were even more pregnant pupils in Ramaine and Leteane high schools. All three schools are in Magogoe village in Mahikeng.
Mmatla Secondary School in Taung also allegedly has a high number of pregnant girls.
Yesterday, the province's executive council social cluster members visited the families of the pregnant pupils at Barolong High School with food parcels. The cluster consists of the MECs and directors of the departments of sport, health, social development, safety and education.
Education MEC Louisa Mabe said her department was determined to know if any teachers had fathered the unborn babies.
"My biggest interest are the teachers. These children were sent to school to learn and they [the teachers] were supposed to protect them, not sleep with them.
"We are going to leave no stone unturned - the fathers of these unborn babies must maintain them and those who slept with under-age girls must be arrested," she said.
In Magogoe and the surrounding villages, said local councillor Johnny Nkoane, young girls like to go to taverns and they date older people, especially the ones driving flashy cars.
Nkoane also laid blame with schools that closed the gates to pupils arriving late.
"Some of them come to school late deliberately so that they will be sent back home and that is where they get a chance to engage in sexual intercourse," he said.
He said a lack of activities like sports in the village is also a challenge.
Local headman George Pitso said the Barolong tribal office was shocked and embarrassed after the news broke. "This is an old but respected school with lots of good memories, it was a taboo for us."
Health MEC Magome Masike said: "This is embarrassing. Teenage pregnancy has shot up. We need to teach our children ethics and morals."
The 75-year-old grandmother of a pregnant 18-year-old pupil said she was willing to take care of her granddaughter's baby.
"She wants to become a social worker and has applied to a number of universities. She is a bright girl and if they admit her, I will raise her child," the grandmother said.
The girl will give birth in February.
Pregnant pupils multiply
THE 17 pregnant pupils at Barolong High School in the North West seem to be just a drop in the ocean.
After Sowetan's report last week, many schools in the area have been found to have a high number of pregnant pupils.
An official in the health department said they had found out there were even more pregnant pupils in Ramaine and Leteane high schools. All three schools are in Magogoe village in Mahikeng.
Mmatla Secondary School in Taung also allegedly has a high number of pregnant girls.
Yesterday, the province's executive council social cluster members visited the families of the pregnant pupils at Barolong High School with food parcels. The cluster consists of the MECs and directors of the departments of sport, health, social development, safety and education.
Education MEC Louisa Mabe said her department was determined to know if any teachers had fathered the unborn babies.
"My biggest interest are the teachers. These children were sent to school to learn and they [the teachers] were supposed to protect them, not sleep with them.
"We are going to leave no stone unturned - the fathers of these unborn babies must maintain them and those who slept with under-age girls must be arrested," she said.
In Magogoe and the surrounding villages, said local councillor Johnny Nkoane, young girls like to go to taverns and they date older people, especially the ones driving flashy cars.
Nkoane also laid blame with schools that closed the gates to pupils arriving late.
"Some of them come to school late deliberately so that they will be sent back home and that is where they get a chance to engage in sexual intercourse," he said.
He said a lack of activities like sports in the village is also a challenge.
Local headman George Pitso said the Barolong tribal office was shocked and embarrassed after the news broke. "This is an old but respected school with lots of good memories, it was a taboo for us."
Health MEC Magome Masike said: "This is embarrassing. Teenage pregnancy has shot up. We need to teach our children ethics and morals."
The 75-year-old grandmother of a pregnant 18-year-old pupil said she was willing to take care of her granddaughter's baby.
"She wants to become a social worker and has applied to a number of universities. She is a bright girl and if they admit her, I will raise her child," the grandmother said.
The girl will give birth in February.
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