NASUWT is proud to support World AIDS Day on 1 December each year.

HIV is still a very real issue for almost 108,000 people and their families who live with HIV in the UK and in 2023, 6,402 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in the UK. [1]

Additionally, an estimated 40 million people are living with the virus worldwide, an estimated 1.4m of whom are children under 14 years old. [2]

HIV is relevant for schools for many reasons. With the advances in treatment, people infected with HIV are surviving, working, having children and raising families, so the school community may include teachers, children, parents and families who are affected by the illness.

However, people living with HIV face discrimination because the stigma still exists.

NASUWT has been working with the National Aids Trust (NAT) to call for an end to this discrimination. Under the Equality Act 2010, it is illegal to discriminate against anyone with HIV, but an investigation by the NAT discovered that children and teachers with HIV are being discriminated against in schools.

NASUWT believes that there is a need for improved education on HIV in schools, which will not only ensure that young people are able to protect themselves from HIV infection, but will also enable them to challenge HIV stigma and discrimination.

Schools are key to achieving a real change in public understanding and attitudes in the long term. As part of the Public Sector Equality Duty, schools have a specific responsibility to promote disability equality and HIV is included in this duty.

The NAT has produced an HIV Schools Pack that can help schools meet their duty.

The pack is a practical resource for teachers providing suggestions on how to integrate HIV into the curriculum for different subjects within Key Stages 3 and 4. It includes lesson plans, ideas for activities and HIV FAQs.

Footnotes
[1] National AIDS Trust - UK HIV Statistics
[2] World Health Organisation - HIV Data and Statistics