The NHRCK decided that forcing a student to drop out of school because she was pregnant was being discriminatory according to Articles 2 and 4 of the NHRCK Act. Article 3 of the Fundamentals of Education Law stipulates that every citizen has the right to education according to his or her capacity, and Article 4 of the same Act states that any citizen shall not be discriminated in education on the basis of their gender, religion, belief, ethnicity, social and economic status and physical condition. Furthermore, Article 28 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child guarantees the right of the child to education on the basis of equal opportunity. Therefore, the right to education is one of the fundamental and basic rights that ensures children to learn for their growth and development, which equally applies to pregnant teenagers.
Accordingly, the NHRCK issued recommendations that the school ensure the student to continue her studies, and that the superintendent of education warn the respondent and take necessary measures for pregnant students to keep studying. The Commission decided to review policies on pregnant teenagers’ right to education.
In this regard, the NHRCK held a panel discussion, on March 16, on the right to education of pregnant teenagers, which was attended by teachers, parents, school authorities, experts and the pregnant teenager.
