Gov't implements policy to reintegrate adolescent mothers into school system

The Government is making it easier for adolescent mothers to complete their education.

Culture and Gender Minister Olivia Grange says the Policy for the Reintegration of School-Age Mothers into the Formal School System makes it mandatory for adolescent mothers to return to the education system after the birth of their babies.

Grange was speaking at a Stakeholders’ Forum organised by the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation at the Jamaica Conference Centre on Thursday where she signed a Letter of Commitment with the Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Youth Floyd Green.

The policy will ensure automatic referral of all pregnant girls to the women’s centre, reintegration of all adolescent mothers into the formal school system, either in their former school or in another school at the same level, and the monitoring of adolescent mothers to ensure that they complete their education.

Prior to the policy, the women’s centre, an agency of the Ministry, was responsible for negotiating spaces with schools.

Grange said that over that past five years two thousand and two adolescent mothers have been reintegrated into the formal school system.

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