to enable pregnant adolescents or new mothers to stay in or return to school they need supportive national and local school policies but even with supportive policies many may not resume their education for example despite progressive legislation in south africa allowing young women to return to school post pregnancy only around a third actually reenter the schooling system grant and hallman to improve this picture some girls will need child care financial support and individualized oneonone support and counselling to help them deal with their new responsibilities and feeling different from their peers