Journal Entry 8: HIV/AIDS Education Policy
While the current state of education in South Africa is poor (in the rural communities of course – there are two worlds in South Africa), some good news is that the blue print the government has made sets it in the right direction. From experience, I would rather be part of a poor organization headed in the right direction than a terrific one headed in the wrong.
It is actually a similar story across different sectors in South Africa – the government composes excellent policy but the gap between policy and implementation is huge. IQMS and RNCS in the educational system (though in my opinion standardized testing would help) and the ARV plan to treat HIV positive patients with CD4 counts below 200, to name two. (I'll write more about IQMS and RNCS at a later date.)
However, I believe anyone or any thing in a position of leadership has as a primary responsibility to set and maintain a vision. From there, the rest doesn't allow follow, but it's given the opportunity to. In the case of education, the SA government has set - and thus far maintained - a clear, lofty vision. And that's very very good. ...But it's kind of like being given a blueprint for a Mercedes when you've been driving around a donkey cart all your life. I mean, I'm psyched that I could be driving around a Mercedes, but I don't know if I want to build a Mercedes and, besides, what so bad about a donkey cart anyways!?
But I digress.
What I wanted to convey in this entry is an example of that policy so you can the same thing I do, and taste both the hope for the future (in how the policy addresses HIV and AIDS very directly) and frustration at the stark reality of today (that teachers have not read this information, the schools could be doing more and people continue to die). Again, the policy is excellent, but remember - or read - my initial impressions of HIV/AIDs where I discuss the unfortunate state of educators' knowledge on the topic. Then know that this policy was first written in 1996, almost a decade ago! ...The blueprint is for the Mercedes but we're just so damn comfortable in our donkey cart.
Also, if you want a very clear statement that this world is not always a pretty place, please, read on. Without further delay, here's your first taste of South African educational policy:
It is actually a similar story across different sectors in South Africa – the government composes excellent policy but the gap between policy and implementation is huge. IQMS and RNCS in the educational system (though in my opinion standardized testing would help) and the ARV plan to treat HIV positive patients with CD4 counts below 200, to name two. (I'll write more about IQMS and RNCS at a later date.)
However, I believe anyone or any thing in a position of leadership has as a primary responsibility to set and maintain a vision. From there, the rest doesn't allow follow, but it's given the opportunity to. In the case of education, the SA government has set - and thus far maintained - a clear, lofty vision. And that's very very good. ...But it's kind of like being given a blueprint for a Mercedes when you've been driving around a donkey cart all your life. I mean, I'm psyched that I could be driving around a Mercedes, but I don't know if I want to build a Mercedes and, besides, what so bad about a donkey cart anyways!?
But I digress.
What I wanted to convey in this entry is an example of that policy so you can the same thing I do, and taste both the hope for the future (in how the policy addresses HIV and AIDS very directly) and frustration at the stark reality of today (that teachers have not read this information, the schools could be doing more and people continue to die). Again, the policy is excellent, but remember - or read - my initial impressions of HIV/AIDs where I discuss the unfortunate state of educators' knowledge on the topic. Then know that this policy was first written in 1996, almost a decade ago! ...The blueprint is for the Mercedes but we're just so damn comfortable in our donkey cart.
Also, if you want a very clear statement that this world is not always a pretty place, please, read on. Without further delay, here's your first taste of South African educational policy:
NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY ACT 27 OF 1996
NATIONAL POLICY ON HIV/AIDS, FOR LEARNERS AND EDUCATORS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS IN FURTHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS
Preamble
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a communicable disease that is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
In South Africa, HIV is spread mainly through sexual contact between men and women. In addition, around one third of babies born to HIV-infected women will be infected at birth or through breast-feeding. The risk of transmission of the virus from mother to baby is reduced by antriretroviral drugs.
Infection through contact with HIV-infected blood, intravenous drug use and homosexual sex does occur in South Africa, but constitutes a very small proportion of all infections. Blood transfusions are thoroughly screened and the chances of infection from transfusion are extremely low.
People do not develop AIDS as soon as they are infected with HIV. Most experience a long period of around 5-8 years during which they feel well and remain productive members of families and workforces. In the asymptomatic period, they can pass their infection on to other people without realizing that they are HIV infected.
During the asymptomatic period, the virus gradually weakens the infected person's immune system, making it increasingly difficult to fight off other infections. Symptoms start to occur and people develop conditions such as skin rashes, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, fevers, swollen lymph glands and certain cancers. Many of these problems can be prevented or treated effectively. Although these infections can be treated, the underlying HIV infection cannot be cured.
Once HIV-infected people have a severe infection or cancer (a condition known as symptomatic AIDS) they usually die within 1 to 2 years. The estimated average time from HIV infection to death in South Africa is 6 to 10 years. Many HIV infected people progress to AIDS and death in much shorter periods. Some live for 10 years or more with minimal health problems, but virtually all will eventually die of AIDS.
HIV-infected babies generally survive for shorter periods than HIV- infected adults. Many die within two years of birth, and most will die before they turn five. However, a significant number may survive even into their teenage years before developing AIDS.
No cure for HIV infection is available at present. Any cure which is discovered may well be unaffordable for most South Africans [bold not my own].
HIV/AIDS is one of the major challenges to all South Africans. The findings of the 1998 HIV survey among pregnant women attending public antenatal clinics of the Department of Health, show that the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa is among the most severe in the world and it continues to increase at an alarming pace. The rate of increase is estimated at 33.8 percent. Using these figures, it is estimated that one in eight of the country's sexually active populations – those over the age of 14 years – is not infected. In the antenatal survey, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among pregnant women under the age of 20 years has risen by a frightening 65.4 percent from 1997 to 1998.
According to the 1998 United Nations Report on HIV/AIDS Human Development in South Africa, it is estimated that almost 25 percent of the general population will be HIV positive by the year 2010. The achievements of recent decades, particularly in relation to life expectancy and educational attainment, will inevitably be slowed down by the impact of current high rates of HIV prevalence and the rise in AIDS-related illnesses and deaths. This will place increased pressures on learners, students and educators.
Because the Ministry of Education acknowledges the seriousness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and international and local evidence suggests that there is a great deal that can be done to influence the course of the epidemic, the Ministry is committed to minimize the social, economic and developmental consequences of HIV/AIDS to the education system, all learners, students and educators, and to provide leadership to implement an HIV/AIDS policy. This policy seeks to contribute towards promoting effective prevention and care within the context of the public education system.
In keeping with international standards and in accordance with education law and the constitutional guarantees of the right to basic education, the right no to be unfairly discriminated against, the right to life and bodily integrity, the right to privacy, the right to freedom of access to information, the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion, the right to freedom of association, the right to a safe environment, and the best interests of the child, the following shall constitute national policy [end of preamble].
The policy then goes on to talk about non-discrimination, confidentiality, prevention and education. It explicitly states that HIV education must be part of a schools curriculum:
9.2 Age-appropriate education on HIV/AIDS must form part of the curriculum for all learners and students, and should be integrated in the life-skills education program for pre-primary, primary and secondary school learners. This should include the following:
9.2.7 providing information on appropriate prevention and avoidance measures, including abstinence from sexual intercourse and immorality, the use of condoms, faithfulness to one's partner, obtaining prompt medical treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis, avoiding traumatic contact with blood, and the application of universal precautions.
I spoke with a teacher today and showed her the HIV policy. She said she had never seen it before. ...and the beat goes on (and the beat goes on), and the beat goes on. la da da di di (la da da di di), la da da di da.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a communicable disease that is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
In South Africa, HIV is spread mainly through sexual contact between men and women. In addition, around one third of babies born to HIV-infected women will be infected at birth or through breast-feeding. The risk of transmission of the virus from mother to baby is reduced by antriretroviral drugs.
Infection through contact with HIV-infected blood, intravenous drug use and homosexual sex does occur in South Africa, but constitutes a very small proportion of all infections. Blood transfusions are thoroughly screened and the chances of infection from transfusion are extremely low.
People do not develop AIDS as soon as they are infected with HIV. Most experience a long period of around 5-8 years during which they feel well and remain productive members of families and workforces. In the asymptomatic period, they can pass their infection on to other people without realizing that they are HIV infected.
During the asymptomatic period, the virus gradually weakens the infected person's immune system, making it increasingly difficult to fight off other infections. Symptoms start to occur and people develop conditions such as skin rashes, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, fevers, swollen lymph glands and certain cancers. Many of these problems can be prevented or treated effectively. Although these infections can be treated, the underlying HIV infection cannot be cured.
Once HIV-infected people have a severe infection or cancer (a condition known as symptomatic AIDS) they usually die within 1 to 2 years. The estimated average time from HIV infection to death in South Africa is 6 to 10 years. Many HIV infected people progress to AIDS and death in much shorter periods. Some live for 10 years or more with minimal health problems, but virtually all will eventually die of AIDS.
HIV-infected babies generally survive for shorter periods than HIV- infected adults. Many die within two years of birth, and most will die before they turn five. However, a significant number may survive even into their teenage years before developing AIDS.
No cure for HIV infection is available at present. Any cure which is discovered may well be unaffordable for most South Africans [bold not my own].
HIV/AIDS is one of the major challenges to all South Africans. The findings of the 1998 HIV survey among pregnant women attending public antenatal clinics of the Department of Health, show that the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa is among the most severe in the world and it continues to increase at an alarming pace. The rate of increase is estimated at 33.8 percent. Using these figures, it is estimated that one in eight of the country's sexually active populations – those over the age of 14 years – is not infected. In the antenatal survey, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among pregnant women under the age of 20 years has risen by a frightening 65.4 percent from 1997 to 1998.
According to the 1998 United Nations Report on HIV/AIDS Human Development in South Africa, it is estimated that almost 25 percent of the general population will be HIV positive by the year 2010. The achievements of recent decades, particularly in relation to life expectancy and educational attainment, will inevitably be slowed down by the impact of current high rates of HIV prevalence and the rise in AIDS-related illnesses and deaths. This will place increased pressures on learners, students and educators.
Because the Ministry of Education acknowledges the seriousness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and international and local evidence suggests that there is a great deal that can be done to influence the course of the epidemic, the Ministry is committed to minimize the social, economic and developmental consequences of HIV/AIDS to the education system, all learners, students and educators, and to provide leadership to implement an HIV/AIDS policy. This policy seeks to contribute towards promoting effective prevention and care within the context of the public education system.
In keeping with international standards and in accordance with education law and the constitutional guarantees of the right to basic education, the right no to be unfairly discriminated against, the right to life and bodily integrity, the right to privacy, the right to freedom of access to information, the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion, the right to freedom of association, the right to a safe environment, and the best interests of the child, the following shall constitute national policy [end of preamble].
The policy then goes on to talk about non-discrimination, confidentiality, prevention and education. It explicitly states that HIV education must be part of a schools curriculum:
9.2 Age-appropriate education on HIV/AIDS must form part of the curriculum for all learners and students, and should be integrated in the life-skills education program for pre-primary, primary and secondary school learners. This should include the following:
9.2.7 providing information on appropriate prevention and avoidance measures, including abstinence from sexual intercourse and immorality, the use of condoms, faithfulness to one's partner, obtaining prompt medical treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis, avoiding traumatic contact with blood, and the application of universal precautions.
I spoke with a teacher today and showed her the HIV policy. She said she had never seen it before. ...and the beat goes on (and the beat goes on), and the beat goes on. la da da di di (la da da di di), la da da di da.
But not in Masia, I have anything to say about it.
posted by Lil' Mashudu at 7:23 AM
1 Comments:
Great blog, Melissa pointed me to it and I'm totally addicted to reading you all. Myself and family spent time in RSA in KwaZulu Natal and the W. Cape doing small biz dvpt. and also bringing low cost computers to schools a couple of years ago. The computer project continues and the daily connection with friends is still there. It's great to hear from a US pov though!
You raise so many points I don't know where to start. I have some advice which I hope won't be annoying. On the HIV thing, talk to the GUYS, so much starts there regarding condom use, responsibility and economic support for their partners. So many women are socialized to give sex on demand and are beaten if they request a condom. Or they proposition teachers to get a good grade, money etc. Check out the sugar daddy campaign.
http://tinyurl.com/acrsx The women won't want to discuss it unless they are the older community leaders and secure in their social position talking to a young white guy about sexuality. Until the resources are there, & the behaviour changes it's at best a triage situation and at worst a holocaust. Conversations w Dr's take on an apocalyptic tone and the middle class are convinced that first world solutions will bankrupt the country. There need to be African solutions. But most of us have no impact other than educating and helping people live WITH HIVAids as a joyful, fulfilling experience, we all will die, until we lower the deathknell on what being HIV+ has to be there will be more stigma and continued ignorance. Fortunately the daily quota of celebration and Joy is not in short supply there, in fact it would be unbearable without it, I miss that the most back here in the comfy USA.
Some of the schools we went to had all the HIVAids education painted right up there on the walls and halls of the school. You come in the entrance and there is a giant diagram of a vagina, a penis, a condom being applied and all the different ways Aids can be transmitted written in the local language. I saw this in an elementary school. It couldn't be ignored but was literally wallpaper, the writing on the wall etc. Many of the people know what to do, know the risks but don't change their behavior. Kinda like obesity here in the USA.
Regarding the maths, oh boy I could have been one of those girls. I was educated in mission schools (considered good ones academicly) in Kenya. Math and science was for boys, girls were never called on in class. We were called on in religion or English. We got smacked over the head with books if we got things wrong, the only safe time was when we chanted times tables. Math became an emotional stress. To this day I can't stand figures on a balance sheet or solve math problems without a visual aid, pie charts, colour. Perhaps you are dealing with kids who are focusing more on coping and avoiding attention than actually learning. Making change and calculating supplies are skills that I found adult women in rural S Africa had a really hard time doing. We started a homework club for a former schedule C school in our town. It ended up being Gogo school.
Calculating area for window blinds made out of reeds was an eye opener for me on how smart, talented women don't have basic skills.
You are doing great, your eyes are open wide and you know what you are seeing. Good job, and thank you !
7:13 PM
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