Abstract #18  -  Addressing OVC related challenges in the classroom: educator perceptions of the effectiveness of training interventions
Authors:   Presenting Author:   Dr Lesley Wood - Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Additional Authors:  ms Linda Goba,
Aim: In spite of all the initiatives taken by the Department of Education to equip educators in order to combat the pandemic in schools, the current training programmes seem not to be helping them in this regard. Kelly (2002:28-29) concurs that the present responses to HIV and AIDS epidemic on the education sector, especially the schooling system has been “piecemeal” and ineffective and that there is an urgent need for restructuring. This research, therefore, intends to investigate the effectiveness of the current training programmes to equip educators to deal with HIV and AIDS related issues with the purpose of determining the educators’ perceptions of these programmes and specifically how they equip them to deal with the challenges posed by teaching orphans and vulnerable children.
Method / Issue: A qualitative study was undertaken using focus group interviews to gather data on educator perceptions about the efficacy of the training programmes they received to equip them in dealing with OVC related issues. These findings were supplemented by an analysis of the content of the training programmes.
Results / Comments: Findings confirmed that teaching and learning is severly impacted by OVC related issues exacerbated by the fact that teachers themselves are affected both on a professional and professional level. The findings also revealed that the existing training programmes, while contributing to increased knowledge around HIV/AIDS, do little to assist teachers to practically respond to the challenges facing them and the quality of education.
Discussion: Based on the findings, recommendations are made for policy and teacher education at tertiary level, to enhance the efficacy of training to equip teachers to address OVC related challenges
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