WANITA MCA has welcomed Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek’s position that pregnant teenagers should be allowed to continue their education and sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, but stressed that support for young mothers must go beyond simply allowing them to remain in school. The issue gained attention after Fadhlina reportedly reaffirmed that pregnant students should not be denied access to education, emphasising that they should be allowed to continue attending school and complete their studies rather than be excluded from the education system. Wanita MCA Secretary-General Chan Quin Er said keeping pregnant teenagers in school was an important and necessary first step, but warned that educational access alone was insufficient to address the challenges many of them face. “Allowing pregnant teenagers to remain in school and sit for SPM deserves support. However, a seat in the classroom is not, by itself, a safety net,” she said. “These are young women navigating one of the most destabilising experiences of their lives, often in silence, often under judgement, and often without adequate support. Keeping them in school matters. So does ensuring they are in a condition to learn.” The MCA information chief further noted that teenage pregnancy is frequently accompanied by...