School care and learners affected by HIV/ AIDS: a case study of selected primary schools in Muthesya Sub location, Ndithini Division Yatta District, Eastern Province Kenya
Loading...
Date
2009-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University;College of Education Open and Distance Learning
Abstract
A qualitative study was carried out with the intention of investigating the care which schools have provided to learners affected by HIV/ AIDS. The following objectives guided the study; to find out if the teachers had any knowledge about the children affected by HIV/AIDS; to find out if teachers were also aware of the challenges that these learners face; to find out if these teachers were aware of the educational problems which learners face due to HIV/ AIDS; and to find out if the schools had put measures in place to support learners affected or infected by HIV/AIDS. A population of 60 teachers was randomly sampled. Using an interview schedules, relevant data were obtained from the teachers. Findings revealed that teachers were aware of the challenges that these learners faced at home and at schools, but were not fully aware that they existed in categories. It was also established that these teachers did not fully understand some other social challenges which learners faced and the consequences thereafter. The most disturbing situation was that schools were not prepared to care for children affected by HIV/ AIDS as evident from lack of policies on the same. Apart from feeding programmes and offering counseling services to these children almost all of the schools did not have formal regulations to protect the right of children living affected by HIV/AIDS. It was therefore recommended that school formulate policies on HIV I AIDS and special programs to cater for these children. It was also suggested that teachers receive some relevant training in skills that could help them handle HIV/ AIDS learners. It was also suggested that schools put in place a benevolent fund to cater for the material needs of such learners.
Description
A report submitted to the Institute of Open and Distance Learning in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Award of a Degree of Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood of Kampala International University
Keywords
School care, HIV/ AIDS, Primary schools, Yatta District, Kenya