Step up efforts to keep teen mums in school, groups urge govt

 

Child rights group Pelajar Bukan Pengantin says Malaysia should offer flexible school schedules, online learning and part-time programmes to accommodate the needs of teenage mothers.

PETALING JAYA: 

Two child rights groups have urged the government to step up efforts to provide education and other forms of support to teenage mothers.

Malaysian Council for Child Welfare (MKKM) president Raj Karim said such teenagers usually lack financial and emotional support from their families, forcing them to drop out of school to care for their children.

Raj said educating both teenage mothers and their parents would allow them to make more informed decisions.

“Education is key for the children, parents and the community,” she told FMT.

Raj Karim.

“Access to reproductive and sexual health services should be made available so that the child will know where to go when she needs help,” she added.

Raj said that while counselling is available, no comprehensive adolescent development initiative is presently available to provide teenage mothers the “multi-factor or multi-agency services” they need.

On Nov 10, women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukri revealed that there have been 44,263 recorded cases of underage pregnancies over the past five years, with 26,617 involving legally married teenagers.

Pelajar Bukan Pengantin (PBP), a coalition of NGOs and activists campaigning to end child marriages in Malaysia, called for education programmes to incorporate sexual reproductive and health services.

It said the women, family and community development ministry should collaborate with the health, education and youth and sports ministries as well as the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to ensure that school programmes are robust enough to offer such services.

PBP said Malaysia also needs to help protect sexual and reproductive rights of minors by offering flexible school schedules, online learning or part-time programmes to accommodate the needs of teenage mothers.

“Many teen mothers face challenges with childcare and balancing schoolwork, so flexible attendance policies and virtual learning platforms can help them stay engaged in their education.

“Establishing an on-site childcare programme that provides affordable or free childcare services at school or nearby locations will also allow teen mothers to continue their education without the burden of finding safe and reliable childcare.

“This must go hand in hand with financial aid for teen mothers such as subsidies and scholarships, to name a few,” PBP told FMT.

The coalition said school administrators, teachers, staff and students should all undergo awareness and sensitivity training to help them understand the challenges faced by teenage mothers and encourage them to show more compassion.

PBP said this can help promote supportive and non-judgemental school environments for teenage mothers, achievable through peer support groups, mentoring programmes and inclusive school activities.

“Policies implemented and enforced at school should also be aimed at protecting the rights of teenage mothers to continue their education without discrimination and stigma,” it said. - FMT