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By Fareeza HaniffAs the Ministry of Health continues to grapple with the issue of teenage pregnancy in Guyana, a survey done in August 2007 found that of some 276 teenage mothers,Munir El Haddadi Jersey, the majority became pregnant while they were between second and fourth forms in their respective secondary schools.This is according to Facilitator of the Reintegration of teenage mothers into secondary education workshop, Barbara Thomas-Holder, who revealed that this survey was done among teen mothers in Regions Three, Four, Seven and Ten.The Ministry of Education Schools Welfare Services Unit in collaboration with UNICEF yesterday held a workshop with some 40 head teachers from around Georgetown to sensitize them to the issue.At the opening session of the workshop that was held at the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School,Frank Bagnack Jersey, Holder noted that during the course of the survey, the Ministry also utilised the registry of the health centres, information from the Ministry’s record and used the snowball technique to identify the sample.The findings of the survey show that 95 per cent of the respondents were between the ages of 15 and 17 and only five per cent represented teen mothers between 12 and under 15 years of age.Thirty-four per cent of the respondents were of African descent, 31 per cent were from mixed race, 30 per cent of East Indian ancestry and five per cent Amerindians.She explained that in terms of their living arrangements, 10 per cent lived alone, 32 per cent lived with partners, 32 per cent lived in single parent households and 13 per cent lived with both parents. A small five per cent were married.Employment status revealed that 95 per cent of the teen mothers were unemployed and the remaining five per cent worked as waitresses and cleaners.Ninety attended secondary schools and three per cent became pregnant in the fifth form.The survey revealed that 43 per cent left school because of pregnancy and 42 per cent had family related problems. Fifteen per cent stated other reasons.According to Holder,Alex Song Jersey, for every two teen mothers that exited the school system, one was likely to be pregnant.When questioned about continuing their education after pregnancy,Eduardo Vargas Chile Jersey, 92 per cent were not involved in any economic enhancing activity and of that number, 66 per cent stated that child care responsibility and financial constraints prevented them from pursuing educational development.A large 61 per cent of the samples were not even aware of educational programmes within their communities and 16 per cent stated that they will be able to pay for their own education.Their career choices include teaching and nursing, as stated by 46 per cent of the respondents, while 11 per cent needed a career in cosmetology and 12 per cent were interested in business related areas while 26 per cent had no career in mind.Sewing and secretarial jobs were chosen by five per cent. When asked about job opportunities within their immediate vicinity, 50 per cent of the respondents did not know where jobs can be found after training,Pablo Hernandez Jersey, while 45 per cent identified supermarkets,Marcelo Diaz Jersey, schools,Mauricio Pinilla Chile Jersey, hospitals, police stations and restaurants.In her feature address to the head teachers, Minister within the Ministry of Education, Dr. Desrey Fox, underscored the point that society must take responsibility for teen mothers, while urging communities, religious organizations and institutions to support this programme in order to ensure its success.Minister Fox said,Jose Rojas Jersey, that the Ministry tends to always focus on teenage mothers, but in order to actually deal with the situation on a serious basis,Barcelona Jersey, emphasis must also be placed on teenage fathers.“We often say that we are losing a lot of our young boys in school, and they are ending up either at NOC or at the prison.You know why? Because we pressure our boys too much, too early…The responsibilities they have to take… and we have a tradition and it’s something cultural that if you are a boy, you have to behave in a particular way…that only sissys and girls behave that way, but you know what? Our men, our boys need the most love in a lot of ways. They need a lot of support,” Minister Fox said.She explained that in a lot of ways, men have the difficulty to communicate and deal with situations. She charged the head teachers not to sit by idly but to be able to deal with teenage mothers and fathers.“I am not saying that we should encourage teenage pregnancy and this is where the responsibility of the school is crucial.”