HIV has the potential to reverse human development gains in many African countries. What is its impact on education systems? A report from the Commonwealth Secretariat describes case studies in Kenya and Tanzania. It identifies many challenges posed by the disease and coping mechanisms used at different levels.
Researchers used focus group discussions and interviews to examine the views of a range of stakeholders in Bondo District and Nairobi city slums in Kenya, and Bukoba and Muleba districts in north-west Tanzania. Stakeholders included teachers, pupils, non governmental organization (NGO) workers, education officers, community leaders and HIV prevention programme staff.
Nearly 97% of Kenyan children have heard about HIV/AIDS, learning from the media and schools. Many are also aware how it is spread. For many people in both countries, HIV is a common problem in their everyday lives, but not everyone admits the severity of the crisis.
Effects of the disease on education include:
- The death of an adult may reduce household income and the nutritional status of children may suffer. This may slow their intellectual development.
- School enrollment falls and drop-out rates increase as families can no longer afford school fees or need the help of the child at home.
- Orphans increase the burden on extended family structures. This adds to drop-out and absenteeism from school.
- Many schools are understaffed due to HIV illness among teachers, causing overcrowding.
Coping strategies exist at a number of levels:
- Governmental - Both governments use their own and donor funds to provide diverse HIV/AIDS programmes. However, their response was too slow to prevent devastating effects of the disease, there is a lack of political will at all levels and programmes are too sporadic and patchy.
- Community - Information campaigns such as public meetings involving local leaders and churches, counselling services and antenatal programmes have been effective amongst adults. But more must be done to change attitudes and behaviour.
- Household - Strategies to cope with the economic shock of losing a productive adult include drawing on savings or selling assets such as land or livestock.
- Schools - Government HIV education programmes are limited, but individual schools have developed their own approaches. They may also provide support to affected children by contributing to funeral expenses or providing labour.
The study identified a need for:
- more dynamic approach to information and styles of dissemination used in HIV prevention campaigns
- greater involvement of schools, churches and youth organisations in information programmes
- community participation in classroom-based HIV education
- clarification of adoption patterns in order to improve the success of interventions such as education programmes for children orphaned by AIDS
- clear governmental policies that ensure orphans have access to free education through practical solutions, such as switching from two to one school sessions per day.
Source(s):
‘Coping with HIV/AIDS in education. Case studies of Kenya and Tanzania’,
Commonwealth Case Studies in Education, by M. Juma, 2001 Full document.
Funded by:
The Commonwealth Secretariat
id21 Research Highlight: 28 April, 2003
Further Information:
Magdallen Juma
Senior Manager Academic Programs
African Virtual University
71,Maalim Juma Road
Kilimani
P.O. Box 25405
Nairobi
Kenya
Tel:
+254 271 2056
Fax:
+254 271 2071
Contact the contributor: mjuma@avu.org
African Virtual University
The Publications Unit
The Commonwealth Secretariat
Marlborough House
Pall Mall
London SW1Y 5HX
UK
Tel:
+44 (0) 20 7747 6342
Fax:
+44 (0) 20 7839 9081
Contact the contributor: r.jones-parry@commonwealth.int
The Commonwealth Secretariat
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