Problems experienced by school principals in implementing the national HIV/AIDS policy

Abstract

The overall aim of this research is to assist the principals with the problems they experience in the implementation of the National HIVIAIDS Policy and also with the programme of activities that can be engaged with at secondary schools to overcome these problems. The overall aim was operationalized as follows: by establishing the essence of the National HIVIAIDS Policy; by indicating the legal implications of the National HIVIAIDS Policy; by determining how the National HIVIAIDS Policy and programmes of activities are implemented by the school principals of secondary schools in the Sedibeng West District (D8) of the Gauteng Department of Education; and by identifying the most urgent problems experienced by school principals when implementing the National HIVIAIDS Policy. The empirical method of research using questionnaires was successful in obtaining information on the problems experienced by school principals in implementing the National HIVIAIDS Policy. It also established how the implementation of the national HIVIAIDS policy can be successful at secondary schools and who is responsible for ensuring that the National HIVIAIDS Policy is implemented, i.e. principals, school management teams, learners, educators, School Governing Bodies (SGB) or the whole school community.