Latoya Grindley, Features Writer

I want to tell you, some of them proud of it. They just walk around with the big belly or baby like is a prize they win. - Andrew Smith/Photography Editor

Beryl Weir, executive director of the Women's Centre of Jamaica Foundation, says 1,544 girls were enrolled at that institution in the period 2006-2007. The foundation caters to girls under the age of 17 who become pregnant while attending school. Weir says the number of girls who enter the women's centre represents only a fraction of those who actually drop out of school because of pregnancy.

Need for change

"You see, there are some girls who recognise their mistakes and want a second chance on education and life. Those are the girls we get most times. You have others who are not interested in our programme at all," she explains.

One of the students at the centre is 15-year-old Tamia, who will celebrate her daughter's first birthday in June. She got pregnant at 14. Tamia says that when her parents found out she was pregnant, they were shocked.

"They were angry because they didn't expect it. They didn't even know I had a boyfriend until I was seven months pregnant and then I tell them. At that time, I started showing," she reveals.

Just to fit in

Tamia said it was also during those seventh months that she dropped out of school and subsequently enrolled at the women's centre. A resident of Arnett Gardens in south St Andrew, the teen mom says that while she was not pressured into having a baby, there are others who do it to fit in with the crowd.

"You see, more time you have the younger girls dem like all 10-year-old keeping company with the bigger girls and woman dem. Most times, they have baby and the younger one dem think that it look good, and so, they get involved with a man and get pregnant like is the in thing," she says.

Tamia claims that she has recognised her mistake and is now focused on going back to school to make her dreams of becoming a meteorologist a reality. She will be sitting the Grade Nine Achievement Test at the centre in order to qualify for a place in high school.

Sixteen-year-old Aliciais now six months pregnant and is quite unhappy about her situation. She was in grade 11 and was preparing for CXCs when she discovered she was pregnant. She is planning to enrol at the HEART Academy after she gives birth.

Tamia and Alicia share similar circumstances: Both were impregnated by schoolboys, thus leaving the pressure for support on their parents.

Weir says the bulk of the students who register at the institution are from low-income communities with a few from lower-middle-income homes.

"In those households, the girls may desire to continue with their education or deal with the challenges, but the resources aren't there as it would be in the more advantaged households," she explains.

Driving through downtown Kingston on weekdays, you can spot them by the dozens. Young, innocent faces of girls barely in their teens whose bellies are plump with pregnancy. Toddlers litter the sidewalks.

Irisresides in Allman Town, central Kingston. She says it's common for teenagers and pre-teens in that community.

"Parents have a hard time here with the girls. Girls getting pregnant and all drop out of high and even primary school to show you how bad it is," she said.

Iris speaks of her own observations and even personal experience.

"I grow my child the right way and she was doing fine in school, because she all pass her Common Entrance. Next thing me know is that she get pregnant and drop out of high school. I tell you, people can't swear for them nowadays children here," she adds.

Miss Ida, an older woman standing nearby, interjects. She said that that while parents think they have angels around, it's when their backs are turned that the children stray.

"You see a night time when they have like the dance going on and you say you gone to your bed, is that time the pickney dem get wild and sneak out of the house. So you lock up in your house sleeping, thinking that everything is fine, and then two twos you see them with belly. The pickney dem now bad like yaws," Miss Ida says.

Of course, it takes two to tango and the girls aren't the only ones to blame. Iris says the fathers are often much older than the girls. However, there are cases when the boys are in the same age group and are attending school. In these cases, Iris says the parents of the couple are sometimes forced to support the girl up to delivery and beyond.

However, Miss Ida said she would not uphold any "slackness" in her house.

"Me not keeping no pregnant, underage pickney in my home. If she get pregnant, I send her to the gentleman or gentleboy who get her pregnant," she says.

Miss Ida is against parents who are too lenient. "Sometimes the parents just as bad. Them all have children with different different father. I know a lady with 10 children with 10 babyfather and she still don't settle yet.

"Some woman just don't know how fi grow girls and so sometimes the girl think is a free for all and think they can do anything and all get man from very early. And I want tell you some of them proud of it. They just walk around with the big belly or baby like is a prize they win," she adds.

Asked if school was an option for the girls after having the baby, Miss Ida said "rarely".

She continued: "Some go into relationship out of wants and profiling because parents can't afford much and more time it end up in pregnancy. You have the ones who go back to school, but very few. The others is like them body in heat why they can't control themselves and focus on school.

"School not on some of them mind after they have baby, because they think they turn big woman because they have baby. When horse come out of pen, is the hardest thing for them to go back in."

According to Weir, for the period 2006-2007, only 502 fathers were located by the Women's Centre.

"We try to find the fathers and find as many as possible. However, it's very difficult. The 502 who came in represent just one-third of the number of pregnant girls," Weir notes. The fathers, she says, receive counselling at the centre.

Currently, the average age of girls at the centre is 15 years. The executive director says there has been an increase in the number of girls aged 15 and under registering.

Names changed on request

latoya.grindley@gleanerjm.com