Teenage mothers' experiences in mainstream educational settings: an inclusive education perspective

Abstract

Teenage motherhood had become a major problem in South Africa, where the majority of teenage mothers and their children were placed in precarious circumstances, which caused most of them to drop out of school. The study aimed to explore teenage mothers’ understanding of education and teenage pregnancy, explore the challenges they experienced in mainstream educational settings, and explore the support available to them from schools, families, and communities within mainstream educational settings. In this study, the researcher used a qualitative research methodology. The participants were purposefully selected to elicit rich and informative insights. They were fifteen teenage mothers aged between 13–19 years who were enrolled in schools and lived within the confines of the UMzinyathi district, Nqutu town. Data was generated through semi-structured interviews with individual participants and two focus group discussions with selected participants from the participating schools. The interviews were face-to-face, guided by open-ended questions. The findings revealed that there was a high level of stigma towards teenage mothers and inadequate educational support. The study showed that teenage mothers were aware of how pregnancy affected their education and the challenge of balancing school with parenting. Their academic performance suffered due to these dual responsibilities, which were further exacerbated by financial issues and limited support services. The study recommended comprehensive support systems to assist teenage mothers within educational environments. Schools were advised to integrate awareness campaigns and peer education programs to reduce stigma for teenage mothers. Accessible healthcare, social services, and inclusive education workshops for teachers, along with government day-care programs, were considered essential to lower absenteeism and ensure equal educational opportunities.