South Africa

It is estimated that South Africa will face a teacher shortage of 35,000 next year due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

credit: Justin W. van Fleet

Approximately 40 million people in the world live with HIV/AIDS. Over 2 million people infected with the virus are children. Worldwide, an estimated 15 million children are orphaned by AIDS.

HIV/AIDS dramatically affects families and communities, hindering many children’s right to an education. Poor families affected by AIDS may be forced to withdraw their children from school due to their lack of sufficient income. In addition, children take on household tasks and must care for their parents instead of attend school when the pandemic strikes.

Children orphaned by AIDS are particularly vulnerable. Overt discrimination against AIDS-affected children and orphans is a serious barrier to schooling.

HIV/AIDS also affects teachers. In some countries, such as Zambia, teachers are becoming sick from AIDS faster than they can be trained. This places additional burdens on the education system.

Did you know…

• By 2010, it is predicted that there will be 20.2 million children orphaned by AIDS. 15.7 million of these children will live in Sub-Saharan Africa alone.

• HIV/AIDS rate doubles among young people who do not finish primary school. It is estimated that if all children were to complete primary school, at least 7 million new cases of HIV could be prevented in a decade.

• Girls are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. They are generally the first to be withdrawn from school if money is short or if family members need to be cared for.

• In South Africa there will be a shortage of 35,000 teachers by 2008, mainly due to HIV&AIDS.