Abstract
M.Ed. (Educational Psychology)
Inclusive Education in South Africa means that our schools have to accommodate all children,
including HIV positive children on vital antiretroviral medication. This medication comes with
a set of side effects which the affected children experience on a daily basis. However, teachers
are generally uninformed about these.
The aims of this study stems from the belief that children affected by HIV positive children on
antiretroviral medication would benefit from having teachers who have a comprehensive
knowledge of the possible side effects of medication, and their side effects and their possible
impact on successful learning.
A qualitative, interpretivist based research design is used to obtain an understanding of a
teacher’s observations of teaching an HIV positive child taking antiretroviral medication. The
data drawn from interviews with the teacher, school reports and examples of the child’s work.
Transcriptions of the interview are analysed to identify themes and to establish areas in learning
and development that may be affected by the use of antiretroviral medication.
The following themes are identified in the data:
Areas of academic difficulty in a learner taking antiretroviral medication in particular;
writing including handwriting, reading and spelling.
The possibility that antiretroviral medication may cause developmental and cognitive
delays which then impacts on a learners ability to achieve academically.
Difficulties experienced in the areas of handwriting, in particular the inability to form
letters correctly; in reading, the developmental skills needed to read successfully were delayed
to such an extent that the learner made little progress in this area; in phonics, the inability to
hear and identify sounds in isolation limited the progress of the learner to learn to spell.
Teachers know that antiretroviral medication is prescribed to increase the life span of
those affected with HIV/AIDS. However, their knowledge of the proper administration in
children is either limited or in some cases non-existent.
The side effects caused by antiretroviral treatment are numerous. As an example, one
of the effects is lethargy which can influence the way a learner performs in the classroom...