HIV/AIDS: Its Impact in the Zimbabwean School Curriculum

Abstract

This report presents the findings of the impact of HIV/AIDS on the quality of education in rural secondary schools in the Zaka district, Zimbabwe. The methodology involved ten rural secondary schools and a sample of 20 teachers (10 males and 10 females) and 40 students (20 boys and 20 girls). This study used a qualitative methodology throughout the interview sessions because “letting people talk” has been found by most social researchers to be the most appropriate when dealing with this nature of research. Findings in this study indicated that the quality of education is being impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The quality of education is being impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic mainly because trained teachers are lost due to illness and death; student-teacher contact is reduced as a result of permanent or temporary absenteeism of teachers and students. The findings also suggest that students with parents that are infected with HIV/AIDS were mostly affected. This research study recommends that schools should establish Anti-AIDS clubs to educate students about HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention as well as to deal with the needs of those affected with the virus. The study further recommends that students should develop a culture of reading material on HIV/AIDS so as to gain a better understanding and hence make informed decisions about sexual behaviour.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n13p773