Teachers are in an excellent position to pass information about HIV on to their pupils. In 1994, the Zimbabwean Ministry of Higher Education and Technology introduced a nationwide programme to train teachers in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. Four years later, researchers evaluated the programme’s success, on behalf of UNICEF.

Each college provides one mass lecture per week. These are taught by lecturers who volunteered for the initial training, adding to their already overloaded schedule. Some colleges also use group activities including drama, posters, poetry, play-writing, newsletters and exhibitions. In the first year, student teachers learn basic facts about STIs and HIV/AIDS. During year two, they teach AIDS education during their teaching practice. In the third year, they build up more information on HIV and address problems they faced during their teaching practice. They also prepare HIV/AIDS resource files.

Researchers conducted baseline and follow-up questionnaires of 1 562 student teachers, 210 technical students and 84 agricultural students, and focus group discussions with lecturers and 297 student teachers.

Compared with baseline results, researchers found that students now:

• know a lot more about condoms
• cite abstinence more often as a way to avoid infection
• are more likely to identify 5 to 14 year olds as the group with the lowest HIV prevalence
• know more about the symptoms of HIV infection
• have greater understanding about the diagnosis and treatment of STIs
• are more likely to state that a woman has the right to refuse sex.

The students feel that free condom distribution should be combined with the development of sound moral principles. However, only about half of both male and female students would automatically accept the use of condoms in their regular sexual relationship. Nevertheless, many students feel that the course helps women and men develop skills that will enable them to negotiate for safer sex.

On the subject of HIV testing:

• 61 per cent of students agree that people should be encouraged to go for testing.
• The majority would try to persuade people to inform their sexual partners of their HIV status.
• Nearly half say that they would have an HIV test if they found that their partner was being unfaithful.

Lecturers recommend making the AIDS education course examinable in order to raise its status and prompt the government to provide properly qualified tutors to teach it. The researchers also highlight the need to:

• enforce course attendance
• update the curriculum with student participation
• use peer educators and participatory techniques to help students internalise positive attitudes and behaviour
• emphasise female empowerment in course materials.

Source(s):
‘An impact evaluation of student teacher training in HIV/AIDS education in Zimbabwe’, Evaluation and Program Planning 25: 377-385, by T. Chifunyise, H. Benoy and B. Mukiibi, 2002 Full document.

Funded by: UNICEF

id21 Research Highlight: 9 April, 2003

Further Information:
Tisa Chifunyise
Save the Children (UK)
41 Edinburgh Road
Vainona
Harare
Zimbabwe

Tel: +263 4 793198
Fax: +263 4 251883
Contact the contributor: tisac@scfuk.org.zw

UNICEF

Other related links:
'Catastrophe or controllable crisis? The impact of the AIDS epidemic on schooling in Africa'

'Friends in deed – preventing HIV through peer education in South African schools'

'Meeting their needs? Discussing young people’s sexual health'

'Knowledge is power - AIDS education for Ugandan schoolchildren'

'Clearing up confusion: peer-led AIDS education in Zambia'

Take a look at the ELDIS collection of items on HIV/AIDS and education

OneWorld's Learning Channel has a selection of items on education and HIV/AIDS