12-year-old at School Girl Mothers' Unit

At least one girl among those attending the School Girl Mothers’ Unit (now known as Unit Ghozza) last year was aged just 12.

Education Minister Louis Galea said in reply to a parliamentary question this evening that 174 girls attended the unit last year. Their age was between 12 and 20.

In previous years, the youngest school girl mothers were 13 years old.

The unit was set up in 1989 when services were given to 12 girls aged between 14 and 16.

Their number has been rising steadily since.

Ten years ago there were 73 students in the unit.

The minister was replying to a question by Labour MP Adrian Vassallo.