More than 50 000 teachers at public schools are living with HIV and most of these teachers can be found in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Eastern Cape.

This has been revealed in a research by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)  released today. The study titled: The Health of Educators in Public Schools in South Africa was commissioned by the Department of Basic Education.

The purpose of the research was to look at the health and wellbeing of public schools, with specific focus on the HIV profile of teachers and school leadership.

Similar research was conducted in 2004.

“The good health and wellbeing of educators is critical for the provision of quality education. Health and wellbeing are in turn influenced by factors such as the school environment, educators’ mental and physical health, substance use and abuse and structural barriers.

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