Gender, HIV/AIDS and The Status of Teachers, Report of the Third Commonwealth Teachers’ Research Symposium, Mozambique, 2008. (Book Review)

Opening and closing paragraphs: Of 33.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS, two thirds are in Africa. There are nine million orphaned children in commonwealth Africa. Children are vulnerable, and teachers are therefore in a very difficult position. This commonwealth conference is reported as five sessions, dealing with teacher mobility, the impact of HIV/AIDS of education and teachers, and strategies for using research to improve education. Three out of six appendices offer additional details...
This report carried the proceedings of the conference, and the text of the Keynote paper by Professor Michael Kelly. It was especially noted that supportive words are often not followed up with action and implementation of changes, often because the issue was place on the caseload of junior staff. The need for partnership, including international partnerships, is the dominant message I take away from these Proceedings. A supposed flu pandemic in Europe caused billions to be spent and wasted in panic. The huge numbers and human tragedies involved in this real pandemic should be at the top of world government priorities.