The National Freedom Party Youth Movement has called for virginity testing at schools to curb the scourge of teenage pregnancies.
Around 21000 schoolgirls‚ including 717 still in primary school‚ were pregnant in the 2013/14 financial year‚ according to a report on a written reply in Parliament from the basic education ministry in response to questions asked by the Democratic Alliance.
The Mpumalanga department of education reportedly confirmed having recorded a total of 3196 pregnant schoolgirls last year alone.
The NFP Youth Movement’s general secretary‚ Busi Tshabalala‚ said they put the blame squarely on the shoulders of government for legitimising abortion for 12-year-olds.
She said they believed such policies were a contributing factor to the high levels of teenage pregnancy.
“We also believe that all high schools in the country should have virginity testing facilities or centres so that virginity testing can be conducted in schools as we strongly believe that remaining virgins is the only solution to this worrisome teenage pregnancy problem‚” she said.
“It’s common knowledge that indulging in sex has serious consequences to those doing it‚ including sexual transmitted diseases.”
Tshabalala said they believe sex should be made illegal to all young people below the age of 18. – The Times
Abortion policy to blame for teen pregnancies
The National Freedom Party Youth Movement has called for virginity testing at schools to curb the scourge of teenage pregnancies.
Around 21000 schoolgirls‚ including 717 still in primary school‚ were pregnant in the 2013/14 financial year‚ according to a report on a written reply in Parliament from the basic education ministry in response to questions asked by the Democratic Alliance.
The Mpumalanga department of education reportedly confirmed having recorded a total of 3196 pregnant schoolgirls last year alone.
The NFP Youth Movement’s general secretary‚ Busi Tshabalala‚ said they put the blame squarely on the shoulders of government for legitimising abortion for 12-year-olds.
She said they believed such policies were a contributing factor to the high levels of teenage pregnancy.
“We also believe that all high schools in the country should have virginity testing facilities or centres so that virginity testing can be conducted in schools as we strongly believe that remaining virgins is the only solution to this worrisome teenage pregnancy problem‚” she said.
“It’s common knowledge that indulging in sex has serious consequences to those doing it‚ including sexual transmitted diseases.”
Tshabalala said they believe sex should be made illegal to all young people below the age of 18. – The Times