The Education Ministries AIDS Dilemma
by Fatima Suleman
2001-01-18
A new report investigating the impact of AIDS in the education sector has revealed shocking statistics. About 16 percent of teachers in other provinces - and 20 percent in KwaZulu Natal - are HIV-positive. In addition, between 7 percent and 8 percent of principals and heads of department in schools nationwide were infected with the disease at the end of last year.
However, Education Minister, Kader Asmal says that the report was deeply flawed and based on questionable assumptions. He denies that the report is a departmental report, but says that the report was commissioned by the Department of Health. Further, he said the figures were based on a sampling of pregnant women. Asmal said his department was trying to work out a model for HIV impact that was more systematic than the one we have. Obviously, teachers were vulnerable to the disease, but he was more concerned about to the 15 to 25 age group, young people, and notably young girls.
The University of Natal said even without the problem of HIV and AIDS, the teaching profession faced major challenges in ensuring there would be sufficient staff to meet future demands. At present not enough teachers were being trained to meet even the normal fall-out rate of 10 percent a year. There was no doubt that the disease had enormous potential for creating havoc not only in education, but also in every sphere of South African society.
A new report investigating the impact of AIDS in the education sector has revealed shocking statistics. About 16 percent of teachers in other provinces - and 20 percent in KwaZulu Natal - are HIV-positive. In addition, between 7 percent and 8 percent of principals and heads of department in schools nationwide were infected with the disease at the end of last year.
The study recommends recalling retired teachers to stand in for teachers who die or who are absent from school due to HIV-related illnesses. It also predicts that the pandemic could shatter the quality of education, skills development and lead to the failure by university and technikon students to repay loans. In the higher education sector, the study says that one in four undergraduates and one in eight post-graduate students is HIV-positive, while one in five technikon students is HIV-positive.
The study recommends creating systems to assist early recognition of vulnerable learners before they drop out. The study also calls for a review of the planning system of teacher training; identifying vulnerable workplaces and work processes and substituting teacher planning systems to be more responsive to shorter-term, unpredictable and intermittent absenteeism caused by HIV-related illnesses.
It recommends engaging the department of public service and administration, other government departments and employee representatives to ensure that medical and pension benefits are structured adequately to meet the HIV and AIDS related needs of employees and their dependents.
However, Education Minister, Kader Asmal says that the report was deeply flawed and based on questionable assumptions. He denies that the report is a departmental report, but says that the report was commissioned by the Department of Health. Further, he said the figures were based on a sampling of pregnant women.
Asmal said his department was trying to work out a model for HIV impact that was more systematic than the one we have. Obviously, teachers were vulnerable to the disease, but he was more concerned about to the 15 to 25 age group, young people, and notably young girls.
Meanwhile, the education department in KwaZulu-Natal has advised all of its 86 000 teachers and clerical staff who believe they may have symptoms of HIV and AIDS to have tests immediately. It has been reported that at least 17 000 employees of the department throughout the province have been infected with HIV and AIDS.
Msibi said the KZN department would embark on a R5,8-million programme this year to educate teachers, clerical staff and pupils about the ramifications of the disease.
The AIDS tragedy was already manifesting itself in an increase in the number of orphans in classrooms and would definitely affect the matriculation pass rate, as teachers succumbed to the disease and children were taken out of school to look after sick parents.
The University of Natal said even without the problem of HIV and AIDS, the teaching profession faced major challenges in ensuring there would be sufficient staff to meet future demands. At present not enough teachers were being trained to meet even the normal fall-out rate of 10 percent a year.
There was no doubt that the disease had enormous potential for creating havoc not only in education, but also in every sphere of South African society.
Sources: Moshoeshoe Monare: The Star, 10 January 2001; SAPA, 14 January 2001; and Patrick Leeman and Andre Koopman: The Mercury, 11 January 2001
|
11 teachers a day die of AIDS
(2005-04-01)
HIV prevalence (%) (antenatal)
(2004-10-04)
Bridging the Gap Literacy Workshop
(2005-04-23)
Summary Bulletin 3 - DHS-LG Discussion List
(2004-07-16)
News
