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Creches spurning HIV+ kids 'to lose funding'
Nalisha Kalideen The Star, June 11 2002. Reprinted courtesy of Independent Newspapers (Pty) Ltd.
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There is no existing policy concerning the admittance of HIV-positive children into nursery schools or creches.
But if a government-funded creche or nursery school refuses to admit an HIV-positive child, its funding would be cut, according to the department of social services and population development.
The admittance of HIV-positive children into nursery schools was raised when Karen Pereira's HIV-positive foster daughter Tholakele was rejected by three nursery schools last year. Pereira has now taken two of the schools to court to fight for the rights of her child.
Although the national department of education has a strict policy of non-discrimination concerning the admittance of pupils, nursery schools and creches in Gauteng fall under the jurisdiction of the department of social Services and population development, where there is currently no policy concerning the HIV status of children.
Social Services and Population Development spokesperson Mbela Phetlhe said this was because the department was currently concentrating on the issue of AIDS orphans.
He added that private creches and nursery schools should also follow a policy of non-discrimination when admitting children.
Pereira's keenly awaited case against the Buccleuch Montessori Nursery School was expected to be heard in the Johannesburg High Court on Wednesday. |
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