82 Primary Grade School
Girls Pregnant
In Costa Rica there some
14.000 adolescents
pregnant, but only 1.600
are in school, according
to information by the
Ministerio de Educación
Pública (MEP), which
confirms that 82 are in
primary school, who are
expected to leave the
classroom to fave
maternity.
"We have 51 in sixth
grade, 14 in fifth, 2 in
fourt and 4 in third
grade. This cannot be!
The worst of the problem
is that year after year
we have around 15.000
young girls becoming
pregnant", said the
ministro de Educación,
Leonardo Garnier.
Garnier added that these
girls are very brave,
having traded their
dolls for babies of
flesh and blood while
continuing to stay in
the educational system.
The government is
helping the young girls
continue their education
while facing motherhood.
According to Anabelle
Castilo, in charge of
the MEP's Programas de
Equidad, the girls not
only get ¢50.000 colones
(us$100) monthly, but
also psychological help.
The only requirement to
receive the help is that
they remain in school.
Mario Víquez, president
of the Patronato
Nacional de la Infancia
(PANI) - child welfare
agency - added that the
program also includes
the opening of the 800
226 26 26 hotline where
the adolescents and
their families can get
orientation and support
on the pregnancy.
|
|
|
|
