The education policy guideline:
Mar 03, 2011
SOME teachers living with HIV are harassed, some are tactfully laid off and others are even denied employment.<br>Patrick Baka Male, the head teacher of Kings College Budo, says such teachers need to be accepted.
By John Agaba
SOME teachers living with HIV are harassed, some are tactfully laid off and others are even denied employment.
Patrick Baka Male, the head teacher of Kings College Budo, says such teachers need to be accepted.
‘’We need to help them come to terms with their condition. We need to appreciate them. We need to advise them about positive living,’’ he says.
So, is it advisable for teachers living with HIV to disclose their sero–status?
Dr. Gaston Byamugisha, a counsellor at Kyambogo University, has his reservations. ‘’Teachers living with HIV should only disclose their sero–status, if by so doing they will become better teachers,’’ he says.
Byamugisha warns that teachers intending to disclose their status must first consider the implication such an act would bring.
Dr. Yusuf K Nsubuga, the director of basic and secondary education in charge of HIV at the education ministry, says disclosure of a teacher’s sero–status is not mandatory.
‘’We only encourage teachers to go for HIV testing and counselling. If a teacher feels they can disclose their status, we advise them to do so, only to few members they can trust,’’ he says.
Teachers who disclose their sero–status and are discriminated against can always report the matter. Nsubuga says the ministry is hard against discrimination at the workplace.
SOME teachers living with HIV are harassed, some are tactfully laid off and others are even denied employment.
Patrick Baka Male, the head teacher of Kings College Budo, says such teachers need to be accepted.
‘’We need to help them come to terms with their condition. We need to appreciate them. We need to advise them about positive living,’’ he says.
So, is it advisable for teachers living with HIV to disclose their sero–status?
Dr. Gaston Byamugisha, a counsellor at Kyambogo University, has his reservations. ‘’Teachers living with HIV should only disclose their sero–status, if by so doing they will become better teachers,’’ he says.
Byamugisha warns that teachers intending to disclose their status must first consider the implication such an act would bring.
Dr. Yusuf K Nsubuga, the director of basic and secondary education in charge of HIV at the education ministry, says disclosure of a teacher’s sero–status is not mandatory.
‘’We only encourage teachers to go for HIV testing and counselling. If a teacher feels they can disclose their status, we advise them to do so, only to few members they can trust,’’ he says.
Teachers who disclose their sero–status and are discriminated against can always report the matter. Nsubuga says the ministry is hard against discrimination at the workplace.