There are calls for the government to speed up implementation of its re-entry policy to ensure pregnant students continue to have access to education after they give birth.
Executive Director for the Movement of Women (MOFFE) Yasinta Lujina made the recommendation to the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
She said it’s important that there is a legal basis to ensure women can return to their education.
“CEDAW’s conclusion and observation calls for the government to create a policy in ensuring pregnant students can go back to school after giving birth,” said Lujina in her office, Farol, Dili.
The civil society representative said the policy is needed to be implemented in all schools to help protect students against discrimination.
Meanwhile, President of Commission F (health, education, culture, veterans affairs and gender equality) Member of Parliament MP Virgilio da Costa Hornai said the matter had been discussed by the commission.
He also acknowledged the enormous discrimination faced by women wanting to return to school after their pregnancy, while in contrast men faced no such barriers after marriage.
“The ministry should look at and think about it because women also have the right to go back to school,” Hornai said.
He added that further discussions were needed among the relevant institutions as the issue also related to culture and morality.
In response to the issue, General Director of Ministry of Education Antoninho Pires said the re-entry policy and law decree had been formulated, but were still in the process of final verification pending pending further discussions with the relevant institutions.
He said although the Ministry of Education would not interfere in private schools as they are a separate institution, the decree would be enshrined in policy and law.
