Breaking the culture of silence in checkmating HIV/AIDS as a teacher-researcher

This study is about the author, a primary school teacher, who as a teacher-researcher wanted to improve the awareness of HIV/AIDS that has become a major challenge globally and has been on the increase over the past two-and-a-half decades, especially so, in sub-Saharan Africa. This is in spite of an "overflow" of HIV/AIDS information. The thesis documents two action research projects. Both of them are based on an emancipatory action research methodology. It has long been recognised that the HIV/AIDS pandemic requires more than medical attention and that the way in which teachers deal with HIV/AIDS education, especially at primary school level, becomes critical. A fundamental assumption of this study is that teachers play a critical role and are often the main adults, other than family members, with whom young people interact on a daily basis. Teachers can and must play a vital role in the development of valuable behavioural guidelines about reproductive health amongst the youth. This study views teachers, and more so primary school teachers, as important role players in the struggle to come to terms with HIV/AIDS. In reflecting about the HIV/AIDS pandemic, I realised that my classroom practice was characterised by a "culture of silence" when it came to discussing sex and matters concerning sexuality. The study sets out to enhance behavioural change in the way learners think about sex and sexuality and includes a continuous process of self reflection, self-awareness, planning and appropriate action. In Chapter One, I have tried to locate what I would regard as the problem in my teaching. I became increasingly convinced that my classroom practices might well be contributing to a lack of interweaving HIV/AIDS education into curriculum activity, while at the same time, promoting a "culture of silence" when it comes to issues of sex and sexuality. I arrived at this particular point as a result of reflectively looking at my own teaching career, as well as my own historical and schooling background which I felt has impacted on the way I teach.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of the Western Cape

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Esau, Omar

• Christian National Education (CNE)
• Race
• School Curriculum
• Religions
• Cultures

Licence

• https://uwcscholar.uwc.ac.za/bitstreams/cd8c2e02-de01-4f53-9b53-16327c19531c/download