Teen fatherhood ‘ignored by schools’

BOYS’ secondary schools in Limerick were yesterday accused of turning a blind eye to the issue of teenage fatherhood.

Every secondary school in the city and county was circulated with a new publication setting out guidelines on how to deal with student pregnancy.

Although the Limerick Teen Parent Support Programme, which published the booklet, got feedback from every girls’ and co-ed secondary school, not one boys’ school responded.

Phyllis Crowe, manager of the support programme for teen mums, said: “We sent copies to every secondary school in the city and county. We are disappointed with the feedback from boys’ schools. We did not receive even one query from these schools.

“This in itself shows up a problem on teenage parenthood as the booklet has very significant relevance to teenage fathers. It takes two to make a baby.”

One section which deals with young student dads states: “All too often young fathers, simply because of their age, fade away into the background. They tend to be an invisible group.”

The publication is the first of its kind produced in Ireland and the Department of Education is considering circulating it to every secondary school in the county.

Ms Crowe said they have had huge interest from schools in other parts of the country.

“They had an initial print run of 500 copies of [the booklet] supporting students who are pregnant and those who are parents within our education system,” she said.

She said that up to now information on teenage pregnancy in schools dealt only with health and safety guidelines.

But this new publication sets out best practice in the overall school setting.

The 24-page booklet is the first document of its kind to help schools, teachers and students to address teen pregnancies in secondary schools.

Of the 136 teenagers who are currently being assisted by the programme in Limerick, 22 were attending secondary school.

Project worker Martina Hogan said nearly every one of the 22 girls has continued on in education.

She said: “There is a very negative stereotyping of teenage pregnancy in TV soaps and there is no promotion of the positive side.”

The publication was financed by the Health Service Executive Mid-West and outside consultants gave advice on some of its contents.

Ms Crowe added: “The document provides a working template for schools and centres of education to develop guidelines for best practice around the needs of [pregnant] students and explores how schools and centres of education might best address these issues.”