There’s only one thing that 2010 means to South Africans — the Fifa World Cup. But 2015 could mark an even greater achievement.
This is the deadline that UNAids and Unesco have set to “halt and reverse the spread of HIV” — with educators playing a key role.
First, they invited educators to participate in an online forum in May 2009 entitled “Teachers and HIV & Aids: reviewing achievements, identifying challenges”. A sample of the questions offered for comment may provide educators with a useful introduction to the “awesome” challenge ahead.
- What are the incentives and disincentives for teachers in becoming involved in HIV education? Is any compensation provided and is this seen to be fair?
- Many teachers have difficulties addressing sex when teaching about HIV. How does teacher training approach the building of teachers’ confidence to address HIV-related topics?
- With what preparation and support are teachers being provided to deal with HIV-positive children or children affected by Aids? What role are teachers playing in identifying vulnerable children and supporting linkages between schools and health and social services?
- How can harmful practices, including gender-based violence and abuse and sexual interactions between teachers and learners be prevented?
- Are codes of conduct in place to prevent abuse and also address reported cases of abuse? Consider the role of ministries of education, principals, teachers’ unions and parent-teacher associations in this area. If educators make it their business to halt and reverse the spread of HIV by 2015 they will become a force to be reckoned with.
An empowering first move would be to lobby for annual HIV conferences for educators throughout South Africa. There are so many well-informed and inspiring people in the field of HIV and Aids who could pass on vital information — people such as the former chief executive of NGO loveLife, Dr David Harrison, sexual health educator Sister Ruth Loubser, biology educator Jenny Page and activist Gail Johnson.
Harrison said: “The trick is to get inside the head space of young people … we have to understand what is driving them into sex. They know what HIV is, but they don’t internalise it.”
One success story that South African leaders, educators and the people on the ground can emulate is that of Uganda in the 1980s and early 1990s. Even world health organisations could not understand how the HIV infection rate had fallen about 60% without the intervention of experts or large sums of money.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni recognised the threat of the Aids pandemic and led a vigorous campaign against the epidemic. His ministry of health trained Aids educators who scoured the country and held all-day meetings. The slogan “Zero Grazing” (“don’t sleep around”) reached every corner of the country. Aids messages were broadcast on radio daily, accompanied by the beating of a drum in the traditional rhythm of warning.
What the people of South Africa — and especially the learners — need to do: take control of your sexual life.