Why are Schools Important?
Many young people cannot talk about AIDS
either at home or in the community. Nor can they talk about the risk
behaviours that can lead to HIV infection. In many countries family
planning clinics are mostly restricted to married women and couples, and
young people are reluctant to talk about sex to doctors or nurses, either
out of embarrassment or because they are worried that confidentiality will
not be respected. They may feel equally uncomfortable talking to their
parents, and their parents in turn may also be embarrassed or lack the
confidence to discuss the subject with their children.
However, most young people do attend school
at some point, and school is an entry point where these topics can be
addressed. The potential strengths of a school setting are that children
there have a curriculum, teachers, and a peer group. And school can teach
them not only information, but also skills. School can also help to shape
attitudes.
Obstacles to AIDS Education in Schools
Despite the desirability of AIDS education
in schools, there are a number of obstacles which often stand in the way.
Some countries have no policies on AIDS education, and in others there can
even be policies specifically against AIDS education.
At the level of individual schools, one
major obstacle is that often the subject can be considered by adults such
as policy-makers, teachers and parents, as too sensitive for children or
too controversial. Another obstacle, which is often encountered, is that
the school curriculum is already full and that it is therefore impossible
to find a slot for AIDS education.
Even when HIV and AIDS education is
provided in a school, it is often inadequate for one or more of the
following reasons:-
