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.

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