PNG female students forced out if they get pregnant
Updated
A University in Papua New Guinea is making female students return home and leave their studies if they get pregnant .
presenter:Firmin Nanol
speaker: University clinic Sister-in-charge, Nancy Galoko; Popondetta Campus Spokeswoman, Janet Nani; Student, "Jennifer"
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NANOL: The Vudal University in PNG's East New Britain province introduced the ''No Pregnancy'' policy in 2004.
Since then, the number of pregnancies has fallen from 20 to just four a year.
Under the policy, female students who fall pregnant are asked to withdraw and delay studies until the following year.
The University clinic carried out pregnancy tests on new and ongoing students.
The Sister in Charge of the clinic, Nancy Galoko says the policy encourages female students and their male partners to be responsible.
She says the University offers courses, which require field work and female students need to be healthy.
GALOKO: There is a strong policy of pregnancy tests, so being pregnant in the beginning they will withdraw now. Medical reasons to go back and then they can continue their education the following year. Like for this year, … already have two female students pregnant, so that's counted two already this semester and then next semester maybe when we do the pregnancy test it might be another two or four in a year.
NANOL: The University does not penalise the male partners of pregnant students.
Sister Nancy Galoko says they are allowed to continue studying as they will later look after the mother and the baby.
GALOKO: They express their opinion that we have a relationship with the female students and that's our future and we've become the father of that child. It's not fair to penalise female student and the male student at the same time.
NANOL: The University's female population at the Popondetta Campus in PNG's Oro province says the policy discriminates against their rights.
Spokeswoman Janet Nani says they are adults and the university should allow them to make their own decisions.
She says other universities allow pregnant female students to continue their studies.
NANI: If they happen to be pregnant I think they can continue their studies but not in campus, as all university rules state not to be pregnant in school.
NANOL: Pacific Beat spoke to a final year agriculture science student who is 5 months old pregnant at the Vudal University's Popondetta campus.
She only wants to be known as ''Jennifer''.
Jennifer says she wants to continue her course as she will cope with studies and look after her first baby after delivery.
JENNIFER: I just want to continue with studies, I think I can cope with … plus the long distance, it's like four months only and four or five months of education.
NANOL: That means March, April, May, June, somewhere around June you expect to have your first baby, is that right?
JENNIFER: Yes, I think other universities they have policies that they are allowed to stay outside, but this university I don't know why they've gotten us to withdraw and the rules that … like you have to withdraw. And if the boyfriend is also in the school he has to withdraw too.
NANOL: Jennifer has not yet registered to complete her studies and graduate this year.
The Vudal University says the policy is to encourage female students to complete studies without disturbances and to prevent them losing government scholarships.
