World Aids Day special Africa Have Your Say

	AP photo

Many research studies across Africa have shown that especially for girls, those who are enrolled in school are far less likely to become infected with HIV.

A UNICEF study in Zimbabwe found that girls enrolled in schools are five times less likely to be HIV-positive than girls not in school.

HIV and Aids among teachers

But at the same time HIV and Aids are leading to illness and deaths among teachers.

This makes it harder for schools to find the trained and experienced teachers needed to teach children and make them less vulnerable to the virus.

Without education, Aids will continue its rampant spread. With Aids out of control, education will be out of reach   Peter Piot, UNAIDS Director

Every year in Kenya and Zambia, more teachers die of Aids than are trained in teacher training institutions.

In South Africa, 21% of teachers aged between 25 and 34 are HIV-positive.

The death of a teacher in rural communities can result in the closure of the school.

Africa Have Your Say - World Aids Day special

How does Aids affect teaching? Join the debate

Against the backdrop of these grim statistics, BBC Africa Have Your Say asks teachers, parents and pupils about their experiences.

• How are schools and education systems responding to the Aids pandemic?
• How do HIV-positive teachers themselves deal with it?
• What role are teachers playing to support their pupils who have been orphaned or infected by the virus?
• Is there a need for HIV and Aids to be taught as part of the curriculum?

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