Teenage pregnancies have now become a major concern.

This issue has been raised by Minister for Education Filipe Bole while speaking at the Diamond Jubilee Inauguration at Swami Vivekanand College in Nadi.

Bole told the teachers and students of SVC that apart from the reported cases of students being involved in substance abuse, teenage pregnancies is another associated problem that has become a concern.

He said from 2006 to 2007, hospitals from the Northern Division alone reported 1,136 cases of teenage pregnancies.

Bole also highlighted that between 2002 and 2007, the Ministry received 626 reported cases of students involved in alcohol and 544 cases of drugs and substance abuse.

Meanwhile, the minister wishes to advise students to be wary of peer pressure and to save their education.