Abstract: In many parts the world over, rural education is understood from a deficit perspective. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the prevalence of HIV/AIDS myths and misconceptions regarding global pandemic HIV/AIDS among rural secondary school students in Mthatha, South Africa. Therefore, the principal objective of this investigation was to assess and examine rural secondary school students’ HIV/AIDS myths and misconceptions. This was onsidered an important endeavour, given that most HIV/AIDS research has had its focus on participants’ level of awareness and knowledge of HIV/AIDS, paying less attention on the HIV/AIDS myths and misconceptions. The sample of the study comprised 145 respondents in grades 10-12 enrolled in mathematics and science as their focus in a rural secondary school in Mthatha, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Their age ranged from 15 to 25 years of age with a mean of 19.3 On the basis of gender, there were males 62 and 83 females. The method used for the analysis of data comprised benchmarks, frequency and percentage. Based on the analysis of data, it was clear that a considerable sizeable number of rural secondary school students had a high level of myths and misconception regarding HIV/AIDS. On the basis of the responses made to the questionnaire of 15 statements/questions, the level of myths and misconceptions emerged as follows: Four questions/statements showed a low level of myths and misconceptions. For the remaining 11 questions/statements, the level of myths and misconceptions exceeded the benchmark of 20% by far. In conclusion, it was crystal clear that, myths and misconceptions approach of determining how much participants are HIV/AIDS knowledgeable was superior to the traditional approach, as a means of reduction of the spread of HIV/AIDS infection.

Abstract: The objective of this investigation was to assess the knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS of Urban Secondary School Students in South Africa. It is generally perceived that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in South Africa is unrivalled worldwide. In fact, South Africa has the largest and most high profile HIV epidemic in the world. The sample of the study comprised 105 (57 girls and 48 boys) grades 11 and 12 students, studying at a comprehensive secondary school in Durban, South Africa. The respondents were administered an HIV/AIDS questionnaire of 15 statements/questions, to which they were asked to tick the most correct response on the basis of the three options provided, which were “Yes”, “No” “Do not know”. Descriptive statistics in the form of frequency, percentage, chi-square and probability were used for data analyses. Based on the analyses of the data, scores ranged from unsatisfactory to moderate and good. Those who scored below 50% were in the category of unsatisfactory; those who scored 50-60s were moderate and those who scored 70% and above fell under the category good. In this scaling, the assumption was that it takes a score of 70% and above to be considered adequately knowledgeable to use such HIV/AIDS knowledge to guard against contracting the disease. The overall results confirmed what other researchers have observed. In conclusion, it was stressed that: In view of the fact that, HIV/AIDS has no known cure, there is need for comprehensive sexuality education programmes, which will equip urban girls and boys to protect themselves against the scourge of HIV/AIDS. In short, what is being advocated is educating, motivating, persuading and enabling should be the chief cornerstone of HIV/AIDS public education campaigns.

Abstract: South Asian region is housing two nuclear neighbors that are carrying along traditional hostility and rivalry to offset each others in the arena of regional politics. Instead of solving their issues like modern developed world, their relationships are becoming sour and complex. Both are ambitious enough in winning the Arms Race to ensure State and hyper Security interests instead of promoting the Human interests. It is an unbending fact that use of power can quench lust for land acquisition and prolong forced occupation but it cannot win the hearts and minds of the people. No headway can be achieved without justice, integrity and fair play. Indians vying for a military hegemonic designs and obsession to become a policeman of South Asia and Pakistan desire to balance the power symmetry forced Pakistan to make alliances for ensuring its sovereignty and to safeguard its security parameters. It was not the hostility but security concern of Pakistan that drove Pakistan to develop a close alliance with the Americans even at the cost of relations with other brotherly Islamic nations such as Egypt, Iraq and Syria. It was necessity of State of Pakistan that sought Pakistan to establish a friendly relationship with a God-less Communist China even while claiming to be at the vanguard of Islam and targeting to assume the mantle of Muslim Ummah (community) leadership after holding Muslim leaders summit at Lahore, Pakistan. Pakistan military and economic power patrons like US and China also helped in diffusing the crises prone tensions with India. India alleges Pakistan used mujahedeen left over from 1979 Afghan war to feed strife in Indian held Kashmir and border towns like Pathankot while Pakistan complains that India is sponsoring terrorism in its cities like Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar and patronizing the separatist groups doing subversion in Baluchistan. After the nuclearization of South Asia (SA), many a times the relations come to the brink of nuclear flash point, thereby appealing and forcing the peace lovers to build an atmosphere of trust, peaceful co-existence, thereby; making the region free from violence and avoiding of reaching to the explosive situations. Global power like US seeks from both countries to adopt risk reduction and restraint policies to avoid wars. US president, Obama during the fourth and final Nuclear Security Summit at Washington urged both India and Pakistan to reduce nuclear threat, not to move in a wrong direction and follow US and Russia, the two largest possessors of nuke arsenals, which are prepared to lead the way and follow the clear position on the issue. Similarly, US administration also showed willingness to assist both India and Pakistan to take Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) to reduce the terrorism threat especially in the wake of nuclear arsenals. More-so, Non State Actors (NSA) like civil society and Media are urging from both States to expedite Peace promotion programs in line with the World changing paradigms. The 21st century will remain elusive if the essential conditions for Peace are not fulfilled. Media voluntarily participation in bringing rapprochement is a positive development, albeit of its multifarious role, whether it will be a useful effort or futile is a multi- million question? It also raises the question that how these two warring nations engaged in less proxy more active war-non kinetic to some but going towards kinetic ends in its ultimate objectives come to positive ends, talk about cooperative arrangements and more productive and fruitful arrangements. Why global powers and international community are not paying heed to solve this existing imbroglio? It is high time know that both India and Pakistan recess from rivalry stance. They need to cooperate and accommodate each others before the future of next generations become gloom and doom.