£35,000 for Sacked HIV+ Teacher
posted: 10/05/2010
A teacher living with HIV won £35,000 compensation for being unfairly forced out of her job at an independent school. The school, in eastern England, sacked the teacher after claiming that she had failed to satisfactorily complete her six-month probationary period. But it had suspended her from her job after just three months, because she has HIV.
'Danger to pupils' nonsense
The school claimed that the teacher's condition was a "danger to pupils and colleagues", according to details released by teaching union the NUT, which represented her. The school also told an employment agency she has HIV, which breachs her right to privacy and confidentiality. There's no evidence from anywhere of any HIV transmission in schools. Sex with teachers is not part of any school's curriculum so how could the pupils and her colleagues even be in 'danger'?
Neither the school nor the teacher can be named because of a confidentiality agreement the school and teacher signed. As well as £35,000 compensation, the teacher received a letter of apology and a reference.
Terrence Higgins Trust commented that more still needs to be done to challenge the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV.
"Sadly, prejudice and ignorance related to HIV are still a big problem for many people living with the condition, particularly in relation to the workplace," she said. "Leading ordinary lives can be made really difficult if there is stigma in the workplace, in the health system, or in their private lives. The virus can't be passed on by day-to-day contact, so there's no reason why people living with HIV shouldn't be able to undertake normal duties at work."
Reliable HIV in Schools information
HIV in Schools pack from NAT (National AIDS Trust)
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