By MALILA Harris
MALAYSIA NEWS – Muslim dominated Malaysia has opened a first ever school for pregnant teenagers, trying to curb the increasing number of forsaken babies.
The school has opened in the southern state of Malacca and will help teenage pregnant girls to cope up with the so called shame of giving birth outside marriage.
The school will give religious counseling as well as medical check-ups.
In recent times, teenage pregnancy is quite prevalent in the country, and young mothers abandon their babies out of shame. About 70 babies have been left on doorsteps, in trash cans and even at public toilets.
The problem has caused much uproar in social workers as well as general citizens. The newly developed school assures privacy and protection to pregnant teenagers as well giving education.
Islam is the largest and official religion of the nation. Although the country is quite liberal in its approach still police believe that unmarried couples abandon their babies because they don’t want to disclose the fact that they have pre-marital sex. Muslims are generally expected to abstain till marriage according to their religion.
Due to the problem of pre-marriage pregnancy, religious officials came to a consensus to approve marriages of more girls under the age of 16.
The school, however, is facing antagonism from Malaysian women’s minister. They say the mainstream school for teenage pregnant women further worsens the situation and aloof girls from the society. They argued that problem lied in lack of sex education in schools and colleges.
MALAYSIA NEWS – Muslim dominated Malaysia has opened a first ever school for pregnant teenagers, trying to curb the increasing number of forsaken babies.
The school has opened in the southern state of Malacca and will help teenage pregnant girls to cope up with the so called shame of giving birth outside marriage.
The school will give religious counseling as well as medical check-ups.
In recent times, teenage pregnancy is quite prevalent in the country, and young mothers abandon their babies out of shame. About 70 babies have been left on doorsteps, in trash cans and even at public toilets.
The problem has caused much uproar in social workers as well as general citizens. The newly developed school assures privacy and protection to pregnant teenagers as well giving education.
Islam is the largest and official religion of the nation. Although the country is quite liberal in its approach still police believe that unmarried couples abandon their babies because they don’t want to disclose the fact that they have pre-marital sex. Muslims are generally expected to abstain till marriage according to their religion.
Due to the problem of pre-marriage pregnancy, religious officials came to a consensus to approve marriages of more girls under the age of 16.
The school, however, is facing antagonism from Malaysian women’s minister. They say the mainstream school for teenage pregnant women further worsens the situation and aloof girls from the society. They argued that problem lied in lack of sex education in schools and colleges.
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