Investigating experiences of foundation phase educators and the support they receive in teaching HIV and AIDS topics in the classroom : a case study of two public schools in Johannesburg

Abstract

The problem this research seeks to address is the support educators receive in teaching HIV and AIDS topics in the classroom. The reason for the choice of topic is to contribute to the revival of HIV and AIDS education in all schools in South Africa. This exploratory study uses the empowerment theory and presents the qualitative research findings based on in-depth interviews with six educators, four school managers and two parents. Thematic content analysis is used to analyse the data. The study found out that the Department of Education had in the past two years provided training workshops for principals of schools, educators and peer educators in the last two years yet the findings from the two schools under study painted a different picture all together. Findings from the interviews show that any support from the Department of Education or any other stakeholder involved in education, such as the Teacher Unions, happened some years ago. Some of the respondents were not very comfortable on this topic as to most of them HIV and AIDS education is not really being taught as it used to years ago. Finally, the research made some recommendations to these two schools on what could be done as a way of reviving HIV and AIDS education to help children and youths to grow up better able to challenge HIV and AIDS. This is in line with the Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality (SACMEC) 2011 report that the education sector has a critical role to play in terms of the delivery of effective HIV and AIDS prevention and awareness programmes. The findings were important as they highlighted the need for the Department of Education to monitor and evaluate the implementation of HIV and AIDS policies in all public schools. They also they gave recommendations on the way forward on HIV and AIDS education in primary schools.