Hiv Positive Educators In South African Public Schools

This is a research report on educators living with AIDS in South Africa.

Factors determining educator supply and demand in South African public schools.

This study examines material issues affecting the quality of teaching and learning in South African public schools, both within and external to the classroom environment. The findings reveal significant disparities in conditions, both within and between provinces. Compounded by the effects of ill-health related to HIV/AIDS, these disparities are likely to hamper any efforts to improve the quality of teaching and learning in South African public schools.

South Africa has a severe HIV/AIDS epidemic. About 5.6 million South Africans, the majority of whom are in the economically active age group, are currently living with the virus. Studies have been conducted to examine the impact of HIV/AIDS on various sectors of the economy, including mining, manufacturing, health and education. The effectiveness and functioning of the public sector is also increasingly threatened by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The education sector is thought to be particularly affected by HIV/ AIDS because both the demand for and supply of educators are affected. Not only do children drop out of school because of HIV/AIDS, thus reducing demand for educators, but educators, school managers and education policy-makers are said to be dying of AIDS, thus reducing supply.

This report is an integration of the seven reports which emerged from the research, and pulls together the findings arising from it. What emerges is that the resignation, death and ageing of the present educator force is likely to have a significant effect on replacement demand for educators over the next four years.

The decision to change one's job is usually preceded by a process of job evaluation and determining alternative employment opportunities. Dissatisfaction with the workplace can be a strong incentive to seek alternative opportunities. This study focuses on the role played by job satisfaction, morale and HIV/AIDS in educator attrition. The responses of educators who considered leaving their jobs were compared to the responses of those preferring to stay. Findings reveal that job dissatisfaction linked to poor salaries and limited possibilities for career development, as well as the lack of status and respect attached to the profession, may push educators out of the classroom. The low morale amongst potential leavers reflects this dissatisfaction, as well as the stress caused by curriculum transformation and the emotional impact of HIV/AIDS. Factors encouraging educators to stay in their profession included their passion for developing young people and strong collegial relationships. However, many also feel trapped by limited job alternatives, and may embark on withdrawal options such as increased absenteeism or lower outputs. It is crucially important to deal with the sources of educator frustration, lest the result becomes deteriorating service provision and quality in South African education.

This innovative book argues that new insights on education and psychosocial aspects surface when research in the realm of HIV & AIDS is viewed through a positive psychology lens.