As the number of school-age children grows, so too does the need for teachers, and the need for improving the quality of education. Teachers are key actors in this process, but they are still not being sheltered from the devastating HIV and AIDS pandemic.
The Education Inter-Union platform (including SLECG and FSPE in Guinea) has commissioned a study to evaluate the impact of HIV and AIDS on education, and to quantify the additional number of teachers needed to compensate for attrition.
The resulting study shows that that the most affected age groups are 35-55 year-old male teachers and 25-35 year-old female teachers. Primary teachers are the most adversely affected and a total of 199,076 students are at risk of losing their teachers and their right to education in the short term. The study highlights the need for quick and energetic measures to prevent HIV and AIDS among teachers. There is also an urgent need for medication and care for those already infected in order to reduce teacher attrition, which is slowing down the movement towards Education For All.