In the background, a student sits at a computer, diagrams and charts adorn the walls, and an attentive teacher leans across to assist one of the girls with a problem.

But this classroom at Government-funded Teen Services in Hamilton is different. All of its 12 pupils are either pregnant or have already become young mothers.

While they sit at desks and study, quite often their babies are sleeping in cots in the next room. That is when the reality of school-age mothers really hits home.

When girls fall pregnant on the Island, they are taken out of their mainstream school at the next term break to continue their studies in surroundings more akin to their needs.

Michelle Johnson, director of Teen Services, takes pride in the fact that the school has a 100 percent graduation record.

She said: "We take over the girls' education when they fall pregnant for safety reasons. They are not going to get accidently pushed down stairs or crushed in a rush and they won't be teased.

"They are taught the Government curriculum and the three teachers we have here are excellent.

"We are strict with the girls, too. If they are tired, they must come in and continue with their studies. If the baby has been up crying all night, they still must come in.

For those girls young enough, they will spend a few months at the Teen Services school before being transferred back to their maintream school after the baby has arrived.

Tina Raymor, 16, from Pembroke, returned to her studies at Teen Services a fortnight ago after giving birth to her month-old baby son, Kawaje.

She admits she is lucky because her baby is very good and does not keep her up half of the night. But she is still very tired.

She said: "Doing my school work is very difficult, especially getting homework done on time.

"I slipped behind on my work after having the baby, but am trying to catch up now.'' Shaunelle Crockwell is now 16, but she was only 15 when she gave birth to Saige last September.

Fortunately, she is still with her boyfriend.

The young Pembroke mother said: "I can't do the things I used to do. I can't go as I please -- I always have to have my son with me.

"I'm lucky that I can still live with my family, but I was scared to tell them when I found out I was pregnant.

"But I decided to keep the baby because I felt that it was my mistake and I had to deal with it.'' And she said despite the hardships, she will try to continue as she had planned.

"Sometimes I have regrets about what has happened. I don't regret having my child, but I do regret the time in my life that it happened.''