What do we Know about the Perception Educators Have of HIV/AIDS and its Impact on the Holistic Development of Adolescent Learners?

ABSTRACT

HIV/AIDS is part of the South African reality to such an extent that more than half the children admitted to South Africa's second largest hospital are HIV-positive or have full-blown AIDS. This has implications for the education sector, as HIV/AIDS has also infiltrated and affected schools and education institutions and calls for the role of the educator to exceed that of teaching. It is now more than ever necessary that educators pay close attention to the holistic development of the learner, infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS. This research attempted to determine what perceptions senior phase educators have regarding HIV/AIDS and its impact on the holistic development of adolescent learners within their ecosystem and then to formulate recommendations based on the findings. To achieve these aims a qualitative, descriptive and contextual research design was chosen. The first theme regarding the educators' perceptions of HIV/AIDS revealed various categories, i.e an awareness of the prevalence of HIV/AIDS; medical knowledge of HIV/AIDS; causes of HIV/AIDS; feelings about it as well as views on what is needed for stopping the spread. The second theme regarding the impact of HIV/AIDS on the holistic development of the learners showed the following categories: understanding of the impact of HIV/AIDS on the holistic development of the adolescent (physically, cognitively, emotionally, socially and morally), on the family, on the peer group, on the school and on the community.