I was very surprised when the Limpopo Health and Social Development Department raised the issue of teenage mothers.

I was very surprised when the Limpopo Health and Social Development Department raised the issue of teenage mothers.

I believe that the Education Department should have raised the issue because it is that department that should be conducting teenage pregnancy surveys regularly.

Thumbs up to the Health and Social Development Department for monitoring numbers and ages of teenage mothers who are claiming grants and for letting the community know about this wasteful activity.

The Education Department is allocating about R18 million to all provincial departments, depending on their business plan, to address life skills and HIV-Aids issues, and for gender and peer education programmes.

But in the Kone Kwena circuit, where I come from, I have never even heard these programmes mentioned, so many teens are indulging in sexual and alcohol-related activities.

Teachers are being trained so why aren't they instilling the knowledge in pupils?

Education departments should start carrying out surveys, clustering schools, and implementing, monitoring and evaluating the programmes.

Only when we use our resources wisely will we be able to save our communities.

Nyama Michael, Vlakfontein