Grade 5 case study on HIV-AIDS and sex work CANCELED
Posted by Ingrid Thomson | 23 Oct, 2007Media Statement from Western Cape Department (22 October 2007)
Grade 5 case study on HIV-AIDS and sex work CANCELED
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has issued a circular to
all primary schools, requesting that a particular case study dealing
with the topic of “The impact of HIV and AIDS” be ignored, as it
viewed it is as an inappropriate case study for grade 5 learners.
The Grade 5 textbook, titled My Clever Natural Sciences Through Issues,
published by Clever Books, a division of Macmillan South Africa,
contains a scenario on pages 43 and 44, which WCED curriculum officials
deem as inappropriate and requested that teachers find a different case
study that addresses the same topic when mediating the impact of HIV and
AIDS with grade 5 learners.
The book has not been screened by the WCED - its selection as a
textbook depends on the schools and the teachers. The textbook, however,
will not be withdrawn but this particular case study will be canceled.
The matter has been raised with the publisher and this material is being
revised.
It is imperative that the issue of HIV and AIDS be addressed with all
learners in all learning areas and subjects at the appropriate level.
Teachers should be very careful when selecting material and when
mediating the topic with learners.
Principals have been requested to bring the contents of this minute to
the attention of all concerned, including where necessary the parent
community.