SPECIAL SCHOOL FOR PREGNANT TEENS NOT SOLUTION TO BABY DUMPING

KUALA LUMPUR July 28 (Bernama) -- A proposal by the Melaka Government to set
up a special school for pregnant teenagers is not the best solution to address
the baby dumping issue.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said,
although the proposal was to address issues of unwed mothers and abandoned
babies, it must however, be studied more carefully.

She said this was to avoid other implications that might adversely affect
the children, families and society.

In a statement issued here Wednesday, Shahrizat said: "While the proposal to
encourage children and teenagers to marry with the support of the state
government would be seen as condoning child marriages, the ministry is firm on
its stand that child marriages should not be encouraged as it is detrimental to
the development and well-being of the child."

She said the ministry felt that placing the heavy burden and
responsibilities of parenthood on young children, not only deprived the child of
his or her rights to a full and harmonius development but would also affect the
child`s psychological, emotional and physical development.

"Taking into account the physical and mental maturity of a child, what is
required are special safeguards and care appropriate to the needs of a child,"
added Shahrizat.

She said the segregation of teenagers from mainstream education would result
in social stigma against them, adding that the school would be labelled by
society as an institution for teenagers who were pregnant out of wedlock.

"A more practical solution might be to allow pregnant teenagers to defer
their schooling and make arrangements to place them in a new school after
maternity leave," she added.

-- BERNAMA