100,000 kids in South Africa HIV-positive - report
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-09-21 16:29

About 100,000 pupils and about 20 percent of all teachers in South Africa are HIV-positive, according to a local report on Wednesday.

English daily Beeld quoted Thidziambi Phendla, director of UNESCO's international institute for capacity enhancement in Africa, as saying that these shocking figures will deeply impact on teaching methods.

The UNESCO official was talking at the spring graduation ceremony of the University of Venda in Thohoyandou in Limpopo at the weekend.

Phendla said it was also estimated 15 percent of all lecturers in South Africa were HIV-positive. "To teach in a world of HIV/ AIDS means the manner in which higher education institutions tackle their tasks will have to change. The method of teaching and research will also have to be adapted."

He said HIV/AIDS has had a huge influence on the quality of education in Africa during the past 20 years. The availability of teachers was also seriously affected by the pandemic. "South Africa has a limited knowledge of the influence of the disease, as well as its impact on the community."

Phendla said this necessitated the need for research, which could lead to the development of an informed plan of action for tackling the crisis in the education sector. "We will have to change the public's attitude towards schools. It will also be necessary to change the image of schools and what these institutions do."

Phendla said education institutions would have to start campaigns to highlight the impact of HIV/AIDS. The importance of abstinence from a sexual relationship and the prevention of the disease were of the utmost importance.