Curbing teenage pregnancy through Religious Education: South African teachers speak out

Curbing teenage pregnancy through Religious Education: South African teachers speak out

Sello Martin Blasé Mohlaloka & Leetwane Anna Ntlhare

Issue: Vol. 12 No.2 2026 Issue Article 1 pp.24 – 35
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.20261221| Published online 29th March 2026.
© 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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ABSTRACT

This study aims to explore how governmental policies, such as South Africa’s Policy on the Prevention and Management of Learner Pregnancy in Schools (PPMLPS), could be integrated with faith-based curricula in a way that respects religious beliefs and effectively prevents pregnancies. This paper is couched from the Social Conflict Theory (SCT), which argues that disagreements that lead to compromises that deviate from the initial circumstances are what ultimately cause societal change, rather than a process of changing values to effect change. The paper adopted a qualitative research design where qualitative Content Analysis was used as an approach to collect data. A focus group discussion was conducted with 3 teachers in two different schools in Bloemfontein, Mangaung Metro Municipality, South Africa. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to select participants. Thematic Analysis (TA) was used as an instrument to analyse data. The study found that religious education played a significant role in curbing teenage pregnancy through its teachings on moral values and abstinence from sexual conduct rather than prevention. Also, teachers see religious education as a potential moral compass that can foster self-respect, discipline, and value for life. In light of the findings, the study recommends that religious education should be reintroduced as part of the curriculum. Also, societal ideas, moral education, and faith-based values should interact with initiatives to encourage appropriate learners’ sexual conduct. This paper contributes to the growing body of research by emphasises how moral instruction, communal attitudes, and faith-based values interact to shape learners’ sexual behaviour.

Keywords: Religious education, teenage pregnancy, abstinence, early motherhood, school dropout

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AUTHOR(S)

Mr. Sello Martin Blasé Mohlaloka presently works for the Central University of Technology (CUT) in Bloemfontein, Free State Province (South Africa) as a lecturer for the Humanities faculty. He holds a BSc. Ed degree from the University of the North (Qwa-qwa campus) and an ACE(technology) from the University of Kwa-Zulu-Natal. He also holds a B. Honors, PGDE and M.Ed from the University of Free State (UFS). He previously worked at Metsimaphodi Secondary School in Dewetsdorp, Free State, as a science teacher from 1996 to 2002. Then moved to Bloemfontein and worked at St Mary’s Primary school from 2002 till 2017. In 2018, he worked at the University of Free State South Campus as a Curriculum designer for the Curriculum Design and Development division. In the same year, he was appointed to another division (Access program) as a researcher until the end of 2019. His goal is to complete his PhD, publish more articles and supervise students in their studies till he obtains a professorship. He is passionate about his work and enjoys being in class, imparting knowledge to his students.

Dr L.Ntlhare currently serves as a lecturer for the Humanities faculty at Central University of Technology (CUT) in Bloemfontein, Free State Province, South Africa. She attended the Kagisanong College of Education (Bloemfontein) to earn her Junior Primary Teachers Diploma. After which she finished the University of the Free State’s ACE (Psychology in Education). She then completed her M.Ed. at Central University of Technology after earning her B. Honors from the University of Free State (UFS). She currently serves as a lecturer for the Humanities faculty at the Central University of Technology (CUT) in Bloemfontein, Free State Province, South Africa. She started working with the organization in 2012. Her objective is to publish more articles until she becomes a full professor. She is passionate about teaching her pupils.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Mohlaloka, Sello Martin Blasé & Leetwane Anna Ntlhare. “Curbing Teenage Pregnancy Through Religious Education: South African Teachers Speak Out.” E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies 12, no.2 (2026): 24-35. https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.20261221