Intermediate Phase learners represent our "window of opportunity" since children in
the middle childhood years are in the process of acquiring knowledge and forming
attitudes and beliefs which will have long-term implications in the fight against
HIV/AIDS. This is an in depth study to examine how HIV/AIDS education is fostered
in the Intermediate Phase in a school. The focus is to examine the level of knowledge
and understanding of HIV/AIDS of the learners and Life-skills educators and how it is
managed in the school.
The study used a mixed methodology design employing both quantitative (learners'
questionnaires) and qualitative (educators' and manager's interviews) methods of data
collection. The questionnaire embodied both open-ended and closed questions which
were further categorized into dominant themes: level of knowledge and understanding
of HIV/AIDS, sources of information, learners' attitudes and myths/misconceptions
abut HIV/AIDS. The data produced was triangulated with the responses from the
educators' and manager's interviews. Analysis of the data was carried out in the
Microsoft Excel program by using the programs graph wizard to generate bar graphs
for easier interpretation of the open-ended questions. The findings of the
questionnaire showed positive results and left me with a sense of optimism for the
future, although there were areas of concern as in the findings of the grade four
learners.
The educators' responses to the interviews revealed the reasons for the concern
which are attributed to lack of training in life-skills and sexuality education,
unavailability of resources and poor knowledge about policy documents. The
management response also revealed lack of focus and commitment from all
stakeholders to give impetus to the fight against HIV/AIDS. The role of the school
and religious and civic organisations cannot be underestimated in the fight against
AIDS. We should empower our children with education and life skills - not only so
that they can prevent themselves from being infected, but also so that they can have
the opportunity to learn to become compassionate caring members of a society that
will be struggling with the aftermath of HIV/AIDS for a long time to come. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of Durban-Westville, 2003.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/2935 |
| Date | January 2003 |
| Creators | Sukran, Yashoda Devi. |
| Contributors | Reddy, Shakila. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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