Thai gov’t ensures continuing education for adolescent mothers

Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - The Thai government has been introducing new laws to protect the education rights of teenager mothers, ensuring that they can have a better future.

Thai Deputy Government Spokesperson Rachada Dhanadirek revealed that the Ministries of Public Health, Education and Social Development and Human Security have signed an agreement on the protection of pregnant students at educational institutes, with the aim of continuing to provide education to young mothers.

Under this agreement, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security provides welfare for pregnant teenagers and their families, such as occupational training before and after childbirth, assistance in employment arrangements, as well as providing foster families, in case young mothers are unable to take care of their children themselves.

At the same time, the Ministry of Education has adjusted the sex education curriculum, to provide better information and more focus on safe sex.

According to the National Economic and Social Development Council’s (NESDC) report, the rate of pregnancy in the 15-19 year old population has fallen from 51 per 1,000 in 2015 to 23 per 1,000 last year.

The pregnancy rate in this age group is still particularly high in the northern and southern regions, where the figure is 42 per 1,000 and 35 per 1,000 respectively, while the rate of pregnancy in women younger than 15 years old is at 0.8 percent.

The data also shows teenager mothers in Thailand have lower levels of education, mostly primary school only, at 130 persons per 1,000 population, with the number decreasing at each higher education levels.

Most of the pregnant teenagers had to stop their education, with only 23 percent being able to return to her own school afterwards. This condition makes it difficult for young mothers to find a good job or income opportunities, forcing them to rely on other people./.

VNA