Workplace Policies in Public Education

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A review focusing on HIV/AIDS Policy governs many aspects of the professional lives of educators. It is also central to their and the sector's response to crises such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic. As such policy can contribute directly to curtailing the attrition of educators, by encouraging and providing protection against threats such as HIV/AIDS, and by creating a positive and supportive working environment. This study examines workplace and HIV/AIDS policies from the Department of Education (DoE) and the HIV/AIDS policies of two trade unions, as part of a broader study looking at the attrition of educators. The policies themselves were found to be well written and if implemented, would create a good environment for educators. A number of successes were noted, particularly in terms of the transformation of education structures. The findings suggest that problems are centered on a lack of policy implementation, resulting from disjunctures between the national office and provincial and district offices, as well as a lack of resources and inadequate planning and preparation for implementation.

List of tables and figures
Acknowledgements
Contributors
Executive summary
Abbreviations
1. Introduction
2. Methodology
3. Overview of HIV/AIDS and workplace policies
4. Review of policy by experts
5. Implementation, monitoring and evaluation of DoE policies
6. Educator perspectives on workplace policies
7. Conclusions
8. Recommendations
9. Appendices
10. References

Prepared for the Education Labour Relations Council by a research consortium comprising the Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS and Health Research Programme of the Human Sciences Research Council and the Medical Research Council.