By Thapelo Molefe
In a bid to protect the dignity of girls, Parliament’s basic and higher education committees are calling on the government to urgently provide free and accessible menstrual sanitary towels in schools.
They said this was particularly important for learners from low-income backgrounds who often missed school due to a lack of access to menstrual sanitary products.
“The distribution of sanitary towels in schools is not managed properly, as they are often kept at the principal’s office, and girls requiring them have to go and ask for them, which affects their dignity,” said the basic education committee chairperson Joy Maimela.
This comes after a joint meeting between the two committees to discuss a petition by Team Free Sanitary Pads and the I Menstruate Movement on Wednesday.
The petition highlighted the struggles girls faced due to lack of access to sanitary products and proper hygiene facilities, leading to absenteeism.
To address these issues, the committees are now seeking the involvement of the private sector to help make these essential products more affordable and accessible.
They have strongly recommended that retail shops and other private sector stakeholders reduce the price of sanitary products to alleviate the burden on girls from poor backgrounds.
The committees also noted that poverty remained a significant barrier to menstrual health, forcing many girls to purchase unregulated products from informal vendors, which may not meet health standards.
They stressed the importance of addressing this issue through affordable, quality-assured products.
“We might need to do a comprehensive report on how much is spent to assist young girls. We have not taken this matter as seriously as we should, and this is what these organisations are telling us,” Maimela added.
Meanwhile, Tebogo Letsie who is the chairperson of the committee on higher education, noted the NSFAS’ increased support for women students.
“The R350 that National Student Financial Aid Scheme continues to provide for dignitary packs over and above the normal allowances is a welcomed relief,” said Letsie.
The allowances increased from R290 to R350 this year to accommodate inflation.
The committees recommended introducing comprehensive menstrual health education from Grade 4 and educating young boys to foster understanding and support for girls during their menstrual cycles.
INSIDE EDUCATION
