By Berio Mbala WINDHOEK Increasing teenage pregnancies in the Caprivi Region are a direct result of the fact that some secondary school students stay in hostels, away from strict parental supervision. Teenage pregnancies are on a dramatic increase in the Caprivi, thus forcing learners to leave school early. According to statistics covering the period 2005 to 2006 and issued by officials from the Ministry of Education in the Caprivi, the region still shows a high rate of girls dropping out of school after falling pregnant. “Ngoma Circuit showed one of the highest rates compared to other circuits when it recorded 15 drop-outs in 2006, compared to six in 2005,” said an education official. “Sibbinda Circuit showed the lowest with seven drop-outs in 2005 which increased by one, giving a total of eight in 2006. One of them (learner) a minor aged 14 has not returned to school yet, because of the policy of taking leave for a year to take care of the baby,” he said. Senior education officer, Robert Mabuku, said he spoke to the principal of the Caprivi Senior Secondary School who told him that last year’s figure was 16 instead of 18 girls as was reported by the local media. Mabuku said only one pregnancy of a minor was reported in the region from the Sibbinda Circuit at Kaliyangile Secondary School. The learner did not go back to school owing to the policy of one year’s leave to look after the baby. Mabuku also noted that there are measures in place by the Ministry of Education to overcome teenage pregnancies in schools. There are nationwide programmes for schools which include “My Future is My Choice,” and “Window of Hope”, “Counselling Support Groups in School” where a teacher with in-service training trains learners to focus on issues and overcome problems affecting the whole country. There is also an HIV and AIDS Advisory committee. “Counselling Support Groups” are responsible for providing learners with psycho-social support and giving them support in their emotional behaviour, problems and trauma affecting them at any specific school. There are HIV and AIDS clubs” at schools that help learners to act responsibly by avoiding sexual contact among themselves. “My Future and My Choice” and “Window of Hope” are part of “life skill” learning where learners are taught about their health and future ahead of them. These issues are taught by a trained professional teacher. Classes are conducted in the afternoons. Among the challenges facing teachers are having to prepare for official and formal teaching during working hours and these extra-life skill studies for learners. Some parents also complain about their children having to be exposed to sex lessons. It is difficult to determine if learners grasp some of the issues they are being taught, in particular the dangers of early sex life, hence teenage pregnancies continue to take their toll at many schools in the area. Mabuku says the Ministry of Education is doing everything to overcome the high rate of school pregnancies in the region. The Ministry has appointed an HIV and AIDS Education Officer who assumed duty on February 1, 2007. The HIV and AIDS Management Unit (HAMU) and the Ministry of Health and Social Services distribute condoms and other contraceptives at clinics and schools for use by students as a safety measure.