ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada (CMC):

An official of the Programme for Adolescent Mothers (PAM) says more than 300 school children between the ages of 12 and 19 have become pregnant over the past few months as Grenadian authorities seek to defuse a controversy surrounding the decision to allow a 16-year-old pregnant student to continue attending regular classes.

"We thought it was alarming enough to find over 300 plus young women between the ages of 12 and 19 who are currently pregnant at that time," said Ann Peters, a director of the Programme for Adolescent Mothers (PAM).

"I know the stats were distributed far and wide, therefore, I'm asking the question, why did we have to wait 14 months later to pick out one particular child to have this discussion?" she said.

Respecting rights and freedoms

The decision to allow the unidentified 16-year-old student to continue classes follows a statement by Chief Education Officer, Martin Baptiste that the Ministry of Education would ensure that the rights and freedom of every student were respected and honoured.

But the decision to allow the student from the all-girls' high school to continue classes has angered the PTA, whose president, Louise Grant, is blaming the Ministry over its handling of the situation.

"However, in this particular situation the teachers of the school decided that because the child has paid for her exams (Caribbean Examinations Council) and because she is entitled to an education ... that they were going to look after her academic needs after regular classes," Grant said.

'We thought it was alarming enough to find over 300 plus young women between the ages of 12 and 19 who are currently pregnant at that time.'