Abstract
This research seeks to investigate why some orphaned children drop out of school in Oshana region, Namibia, despite concerted efforts by the Government Republic of Namibia and other stake holders to keep them at school.The study aimed to identify the indicators preceding AIDS orphaned children dropping out of schools in the Oshana region-Namibia. A cross-sectional study, which adopted both quantitative and qualitative approaches, was used to gain a complete picture of the situation of orphans and school dropouts from the perspective of school teachers, learners, and orphans who have already dropped out of school. It was found that many orphans still face many challenges and to some, continuing with schooling is a luxury that is ill afforded. The total percentages of learners that dropped out of school are: 52.9% orphans in grades 7 and 8 in 2009 while 41.7% dropped out in 2010. Poor awareness of Government support initiatives, poor psychosocial support, leaving school to grieve the death of a parent and working to earn income, ranked amongst the highest reasons some orphans dropped out of school. Provision of material resources in addition to human torch as demonstrated by majority of life skill teachers towards the well-being of AIDS orphans have greatly ameliorated the self-worth and schooling of orphans.
Highlights
This research seeks to investigate why some orphaned children drop out of school in Oshana region, Namibia, despite concerted efforts by the Government Republic of Namibia and other stake holders to keep them at school
One key intervention strategy to ameliorate the impact of HIV/AIDS on orphans and to empower them is through education
The number of learners per grade who dropped out of school is presented alongside number of AIDS orphans who dropped out of school from all schools that participated in the research
Summary
Ssewamala (2008) reported that, in Uganda, for example, over 1 million children have lost one or both parents due to HIV/AIDS. AIDS orphans are in need of responsive interventions to them from HIV infection and advance their educational and economic futures. For a variety of reasons, little attention has been paid to the situation of children affected by HIV/AIDS. One key intervention strategy to ameliorate the impact of HIV/AIDS on orphans and to empower them is through education. This intervention on its own is not yielding the desired goals as more orphans are dropping out of school. A research carried out by UNICEF (2003) shows that from 1990 up to 2010, more AIDS orphans dropped out of school than Non-AIDS orphans
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