AN ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS ON THE CHILDREN’S RIGHT TO EDUCATION: A CASE STUDY OF HIV/AIDS ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN THE AMATHOLE DISTRICT

Abstract

The research investigated the impact of HIV/AIDS on the children’s right to education with special focus on OVCs. The main aim of the research was to assess the impact of HIV/AIDS on the children’s right to education through examining its impact on children’s experiences and opportunities for meaningful access to education in the Amathole district of the Eastern Cape Province. The study also sought to investigate how HIV/AIDS programmes can be made an effective part of the education system in terms of the rights-based approach. The study adopted qualitative methods of research and semi-structured interviews, direct observation and literature review as methods of data collection. The findings and responses of all the respondents were analysed and discussed within a rights-based framework. The study identified four pertinent issues which include denial of children’s rights to education, to non-discrimination, to parental care and to lack of protection from abuse as four structural issues that need urgent attention. Thus, the study found out that HIV/AIDS is indeed a development problem and that it can be dealt with using some existing development approaches such as the rights-based approaches. Key recommendations are that HIV/AIDS programmes which are meant to benefit children must be made an effective part of the education system in terms of the rights-based approach. The findings of this research can be used by the Department of Social Development (DoSD), Department of Education (DoE), Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), social workers, Community Based Organisations (CBOs), Politicians and other v professionals who work closely with the Orphaned and vulnerable children (OVCs). These findings can be used to broaden people’s understanding on the impact of HIV/AIDS on the children’s right to education.