Education for Unwed Pregnant Mother

Education for Unwed Pregnant Mother

            Pregnancies among the teenagers before marriage are not a new issue even among us Malaysian whom admitted to adopt eastern culture in their life. This issue is a disgrace for a family, as Islam clearly prohibits the action of adultery. It is expected that the members of the family of an unwed pregnant mother will be full of rage and total embarrassment with their daughter. Some may even discard their daughter. With all the wrath and disappointment they forgot the most important thing, the education for their child. Generally, education is divided into two, the first one is the elementary and the second one is the education of life and practical including religious teaching. The awareness of this education matter hit Malaysia when the case of baby dumping abruptly increase in the year of 2010. [1]Sekolah Harapan in Malacca is the first school that provides and allows education for pregnant teens. They provide elementary education during normal schooling period for those unwed mother to continue their studies in order to prepare them to take standard examination either Pelajaran Menengah Rendah or Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). Meanwhile, during evening they will be taught handcraft and parenting skills in. They will be staying at Rumah Harapan next to Sekolah Harapan. [2]After their delivery and confinement period, they will return to their normal schools.

            This school was originally suggested by Malacca Islamic Affairs Council to prevent worst infant and baby dumping. It is also considered as a second chance for them to be a better Muslim. Imagine if parent disowned their pregnant unwed daughter, and banished her out of house, where would they go? They are scared and ashamed by the mock of the society, and to the extent that their own family discards her may contribute to action of abortion and baby dumping. Therefore, one of the benefit of Sekolah and Rumah harapan is to avoid more infant and baby been dumped cruelly. Parent and society should take note that ignorant in this case is not a bliss rather it’s a selfish action that trigger by the prejudice. In the other hand, this school provides the unwed pregnant mother a path on how to try to fix their problem and give them hope for a better future through education. Yes, it is no doubt they had make wrong and mistake, but if not further action taken, they may had turned out in worst condition and do other sort of sin.

            What does Islamic view related about the existence of this kind of education and opportunity? [3]The Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) once said: "Acquiring knowledge is compulsory for every Muslim. (At-Tabarani). Knowledge in this context primarily refers to Al-Quran and Sunnah, but it also refers to other general knowledge. Sekolah Harapan provide standard elementary education, on the other hand, Rumah Harapan provide the pregnant teens about religious matter and living skills, in which these both type of education are complement each other. This hadith supported that the establishment of Sekolah Harapan as well as Rumah Harapan is a path for those unwed pregnant mother to pursue their education in which other school would not allow them to do so. [4] ”If they then repent, it will be better for them, but if they turn away, Allah will punish them with a painful torment in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. And there is none for them on earth as a Wali (supporter, protector) or a helper.” (At-Tawbah 9:74). Allah S.W.T is the Most Oft Forgiving, He love His creation that seek for forgiveness and repentance. With the help of this education that consist of various beneficial programs, they will eventually realize their fault and return to the truth from their creator Allah S.W.T. Insya-Allah.

           [5]A pregnant teen often doesn’t comprehend the impact of education until later in their life. For that reason, many sides have to play their role and left aside the prejudice in order to educate these unwed pregnant mothers. Start with family, parent should lead them to be back on the right path of true education. With the presence of Sekolah Harapan, threes no more excuse that their pregnant teens daughter should drop out from school and just wait for the delivery of the baby doing nothing. [6]The founding of this school made by government responsibility to give protection for under age pregnant teenagers. Protection in term of their right to continue their standard education and religious teaching. Furthermore, the government had set up a policy that the identity of Sekolah Harapan student will conceal. In the other hand, the society has to realize that continuing giving them punishment will not solve the problem.[7] Ibn Mas`ud (May ALLAH be pleased with him) reported: I can see the Messenger of ALLAH (PBUH) look like one of the Prophets of ALLAH whose people beat and made him bleed while he was wiping the blood from his face and supplicating: "O ALLAH, forgive my people because they know not.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. In this hadith, show that our prophet mention “O ALLAH, forgive my people because they know not” also an example that we should also forgive them as they might doing the sin without knowing the consequences. Bear in mind that they have no right to stop the teen education as the future of the pregnant teenager is at risk stake. Nevertheless, we should constantly remember that Islam hold the idea that prevention is better that cure.

[1] http://concerner.blogspot.com/2010/10/sekolah-harapan-school-for-pregnant.html, accessed on 22/04/2011 ,  1.00pm

[2] http://concerner.blogspot.com/2010/10/sekolah-harapan-school-for-pregnant.html, accessed on 22/04/2011 ,  1.15pm

[3] http://www.islamicfinder.org/articles/article.php?id=411 accessed on 4/26/2011, 4.41pm

[4] http://southernmuslimah.wordpress.com/2007/10/06/very-beautiful-hadith-and-forgiveness-in-islam/ accessed on 4/26/11, 4.54pm

[5] Sheila Overton  MD, with Treacy Colbert ,Before It’s Too Late (United States,iUniverse, 2010)page38

[6]  Newspaper Harian Metro, 15 Remaja Tunggu Giliran ,22/04/2011,page42

[7] http://my.opera.com/Quran%20and%20Hadith%20/blog/show.dml/15289872 accessed on 4/26/11, 5.01pm.