Pregnancy tests at Manzini Central

MANZINI - Pupils at Manzini Central High School were last Thursday forced to undergo pregnancy tests.

This is despite the fact that the Ministry of Education and Training said government had long stopped pregnancy testing in schools.

On Thursday morning all female pupils queued at the school and had their urine specimen taken inside the toilets.

Pupils, who preferred anonymity, expressed their anger and the trauma they went through over the tests.

"We all did not want to do the tests, but the principal threatened to beat us up. We were not even given prior notification of the tests. The principal sent someone to go class by class and tell us that we had to do the tests," one of the pupils alleged.

Another pupil confirmed that the school used to conduct the pregnancy tests every term until the ministry prohibited them.

They, therefore, did not expect to be tested again, she said.

"When we were told about the tests, we were shocked and angry and did not want to do them, but because of the threats, we ended up doing them.

"Our parents are not even aware that we went through such.

"They will be shocked too when we tell them after school today (Thursday)," the pupil said.

When the Principal, Sithembiso Nkambule, was sought for comment, she first said she was in a mee- ting before abruptly cutting the call.

When repeatedly called later, the receptionist said she was still in a meeting.

Last year at the same school, a pregnancy test went terribly wrong when a pupil who had never had a sexual encounter tested positive.

The then 16-year-old girl wept hysterically after she tested positive together with three other girls.

The tests were conducted by staff of a local pharmacy.

She was later taken to the Family Life Association (FLAS) by her family where she tested nega-tive.

Comments

Children's right must be respected please. "Anything you do for the child without involving the child is just nothing and a waist of your time and energy". Principal what you did akusiko, kona they are still kids but they need respect as you also need it.
Jun 4, 2012, 9:41 AM, Mavuso Zinhle (zinhlemavuso@gmail.com)

It is sad cos things like these only happen in our lovely country by people who think they are untouchable unless someone gets a grip on such then the future does'nt look good get that ignorant short minded person out of that school before she causes more damage.
Jun 4, 2012, 9:41 AM, dman (thembix2@hotmail.com)

For me I dont see any problem about these tests; instead this must be done in all schools to avoid early pregnacy; if all the schools can copy this we are going to eliminate early pregnancies among students because this will emabarrased them. keep it up Mr. Nkambule i realy support u on this one.
Jun 4, 2012, 9:41 AM, Mehlwengwadla Nkonyane-Mahikeng 2745 (mduduzi78@yahoo.com)

Personally, I don't have a problem with these pregnancy tests being implemented in schools. However, I believe that parents' approval should be acquired before conducting this exercise.
Jun 4, 2012, 9:41 AM, Cultural (swazihut@live.com)

In Swaziland there is no right to anything,asebeme kucinela principal,this is something that is done by people in the cabinat.Kunini bawacindezela amalungelo ethu,akucale letulu kuhlonipha emalungelo ebantfu kuze nalabanye babone kutsi kumele kuhlonishwane
Jun 4, 2012, 4:35 PM, Thabiso Dlamini (thabisodlamini@yahoo.com)

　

　

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