South Africa: Conference to Focus on Impact of HIV/AIDS on Education

South Africa's Deputy President Jacob Zuma was expected to officially open a three-day conference this week on the impact of HIV/AIDS on the education sector. Convened by the Education Minister Kader Asmal, the Conference on HIV/AIDS and the Education Sector is being held in Midrand, near Johannesburg.

The event will deliberate on how the education sector can respond to the challenges the epidemic poses to the quality of education and training programs in the country. According to studies, AIDS is killing teachers faster than they can be trained, while student populations continue to grow, increasing the demand for teachers. A World Bank study released this month says some 12 percent of teachers in South Africa are infected with the virus.

It is against this background that the conference's first concern will be to improve the education sector's capacity to contain the spread of the disease. The second imperative is the need for educators, in partnership with communities and social service workers, to establish networks of care and support for learners and educators affected by HIV/AIDS. The third concern will be to limit the impact of the pandemic on the quality and provision of education. The National Education Department says addressing these concerns will require commitment from all partners in the education community to work as a coalition in responding to the challenges of the disease. Priorities for further action are to be set, including principles for taking action collectively. Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang was expected to address participants, while the Ministers of Social Development and Home Affairs Zola Skweyiya and Mangosuthu Buthelezi were expected to attend.

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