Abstract:

The devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on the lives of young people is a matter of great concern for all primary and tertiary level educators in South Africa. It is difficult to provide quality education when educators are increasingly absent from their duties due to illness and learners are ill themselves or living in abject poverty as AIDS orphans. The terrible psychological toll of the AIDS related deaths in the families and communities where the teaching institutions are situated is difficult to estimate. There are many publicised opinions about the South African Government’s stance on HIV/AIDS policies, however, the common denominator is that everybody agrees that the problem needs to be addressed. At a lower level it appears that all responsible institutions in our country are trying to develop a holistic approach to HIV/AIDS with lasting solutions. To better understand the HIV/AIDS impact on the lives of young people, a study was carried out on 315 Mechanical Engineering Technology students at the University of Johannesburg. Considering the generally accepted parameters, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) has a well organised programme to inform/educate students and staff alike, about the dangers and possible treatment of HIV/AIDS infection and opportunistic diseases. Since a staggering 80% of the surveyed students are not happy with the UJ HIV/AIDS awareness program, this study shows that the program is not reaching its intended target and a new approach is needed,. The study found that there is strong discrimination against people infected with HIV / AIDS, that young people fear disclosing their HIV / AIDS status, and that there is a high degree of reality denial which is reflected by the refusal of young people to have themselves tested even if nearly 80% of the students surveyed know somebody who has died of HIV / AIDS personally.

Keywords:

HIv / AIDS impact on engineering education.