A school in Swaziland is
being criticised by an action group against abuse for a decision to make girl
pupils take pregnancy tests.
Swaziland Action Group
Against Abuse (SWAGAA) Communications and Advocacy Officer Slindelo Nkosi said
the move was highly discriminatory.
She was responding in the Swazi
Observer on Thursday (25 January 2018) following a report in the
newspaper that Siphocosini High School
parents had agreed that girl children should undergo pregnancy tests
this year.
The newspaper said parents
thought this was a good idea as it might save them money in school fees. Girls
who become pregnant are forced to leave school.
The newspaper reported, ‘The
most painful part of this situation is that the fees paid for the pregnants are
usually non-refundable hence parents reached this decision.’
The Observer reported Nkosi saying in itself, the decision was highly
discriminatory and reinforced gender gaps between Swazi girls and boys, thereby
promoting unfair and unequal educational and life opportunities. Boys who make girls
pregnant are not punished.
Nkosi said, ‘Prioritising “saving
money” and not enrolling or sending a girl-child to school due to being
pregnant is counterproductive and detrimental to the lives and future of the
affected girls as it increases their vulnerability to unemployment, violence,
poverty, illiteracy, HIV and AIDS and a myriad of social challenges.’
She added it was also
important to recognise that pregnancy could be a result of several reasons such
as rape, which most girls did not report due to fear of being ridiculed or
blamed by friends and family members.
Swaziland Human Rights and Public Administration
Commissioner Sabelo Masuku said the stand taken by the school parents at
Siphocosini High School was new and unknown. The question if there was a
violation of human rights could depend on how the pregnancy tests were done.
Masuku also raised concern on the discrimination and inequality that could be
as a result of the pregnancy tests. A challenge could arise when only the girls
were tested for pregnancy yet boys were not tested for the same thing. He said
girls do not impregnate themselves, but boys were the ones responsible.
In November 2016 it was reported girls Bekezela
Primary School in Lubulini were said to have fallen pregnant ‘due to the
poverty levels’. The Swazi
Observer reported at the time
the children were said to have mainly been impregnated by older men who would
promise them food and other necessities.
See also
SCHOOLGIRLS
‘GIVE SEX FOR FOOD’
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