House Chair, the committee visited the Rosendal High School in the Western Cape. The challenges that faced the high school were as follows: a shortage of professional personnel, such as social workers, psychologists and school nurses; a lack of research on the role of the boy- child regarding teenage pregnancy; a high rate of terminations of pregnancy, which were often performed without sufficient counselling and left learners traumatised; a lack of parental involvement in the activities of the school; and struggling to keep learners on the school premises until the end of school hours. Some educators within the district did not implement the policies of the provincial department, such as reporting learners who are pregnant.
The challenges faced by the police station were as follows: no rehabilitation facilities in the area; limited recreational facilities; lack of youth development organisations; poor socioeconomic conditions that prevail in the area, such as poverty and a high rate of unemployment; lack of role models in the area; and lack of safety at schools. There was also the prevalence of gangsterism in the area.
The challenges that faced the health care centre included a shortage of school nurses to educate learners on teenage pregnancy; some school governing bodies that did not allow programmes on teenage pregnancy, making it difficult for the health care centre to educate learners; poor socioeconomic conditions, such as poverty and unemployment which contributed to the infant mortality rate in the area; and a high rate of terminations of pregnancy and lack of family planning programmes which would assist in reducing the termination of pregnancies.
Regarding the recommendations, the Departments of Basic Education, Health and Social Development should work together to address the challenges faced by the schools and the community; the Department of Basic Education should ensure that the sexual harassment and teenage pregnancy policies are implemented; the Department of Basic Education should ensure that parents and communities are involved in the activities of the school; and awareness campaigns on teenage pregnancies and substance abuse should be regularly held by the Department of Basic Education. However, the committee noted the working together of these stakeholders. I thank them for that. [Applause.]
Shall I proceed to the next report?