Parliament, Wednesday, 13 November 2024 – In a joint meeting of the Portfolio Committees on Basic and Higher Education to hear a petition calling for free accessible menstrual sanitary towels for girls, the committees heard that girls miss a significant number of consecutive school days due to a lack of access to sanitary products and a lack of proper hygienic toilets. The petitioners included Team Free Sanitary Pads and the I Menstruate Movement.
The committees stated in the meeting that this is unacceptable and demands urgent action. The committees also noted in the meeting that young girls continue to face situations that undermine their dignity and that schools should prioritise investigating and implementing sustainable, disposable hygiene solutions to address these issues effectively.
The committees recommended that communities and stakeholders should be engaged with a view to introducing comprehensive menstrual health education from Grade 4. They also highlighted the importance of educating young boys at basic education level to foster understanding and support for girls during their menstrual cycles, promoting a culture of empathy and respect.
Poverty remains a central barrier to menstrual health. The committees strongly recommended the increased involvement of the private sector, including retail shops, to reduce the price of sanitary products. Making these essential items more affordable would help alleviate the burden on girls from low-income backgrounds.
Additionally, the high cost of sanitary towels forces many girls to purchase unregulated products from informal vendors, such as spaza shops. These products may not meet health standards and could expose girls to potential health risks. Addressing this issue through affordable, quality-assured products is vital for safeguarding the well-being of young girls.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Ms Joy Maimela, said: “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.”
She continued, “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.”
The joint committees meeting also engaged with the Department of Highet Education and Training on issues of gender-based violence in the post-school education and training sector. The committees noted that there is underreporting of gender-based violence within the higher education sector and that greater efforts are needed to raise awareness to promote a culture of reporting and to support affected individuals.
The joint committees meeting noted that the Department of Higher Education and Training also has a part to play in trying to assist students with access to sanitary towels.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Mr Tebogo Letsie, said: “The R350 that NSFAS [National Student Financial Aid Scheme] continues to provide for dignitary packs over and above the normal allowances is a welcomed relieve. The allowances increased from R290 to R350 this year to accommodate inflation.
Our biggest worry remains with those who are finalising their Matric through our CET [community education and training] colleges who are not covered by NSFAS but comes from poor backgrounds. We urge the department to find ways to comprehensively cover everyone in the system,” said Mr Tebogo Letsie.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION, MS JOY MAIMELA AND CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION, MR TEBOGO LETSIE.
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