HIV and AIDS work place policy:an implementation assessment of strategies in selected High schools of Lusaka and Northern Provinces

Abstract

Using mainly the interpretive qualitative and a bit of quantitative approach, this study investigated the extent to which teachers and high school pupils were benefiting from the strategies that were being implemented in high schools of Lusaka and Northern Provinces as workplaces in relation to the HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy. It tried to provide insight into the responses of pupils and teachers to the HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy. It was undertaken to establish if the strategies as stipulated in the HIV/AIDS Workplace policy of the Ministry of Education were benefiting the intended targets. The main objectives of the study were to: Determine if teachers were able to teach HIV and AIDS, Life Skills and Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) after they have been trained. Establish how effective the feedback mechanism vis-a-vis to HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy of the MoE had been. Find out how the stakeholders were responding to the HIV and AIDS Workplace Policy. Ascertain what challenges administrators were facing in the flow of information about HIV and AIDS education. The study was carried out in two Provinces, Lusaka and Northern using one school from each Province with their surrounding communities. The sample had a total number of 165 respondents - 3 Ministry of Education officials, 2 head teachers, 2 Focal Point Persons, 11 teachers and 147 pupils (from grades 10,11 and 12). The findings were as follows; The teachers were able to teach about HIV and AIDS though there was need to have a standard syllabus. The feedback mechanism of implementation strategies between the Ministry of Education and the high schools was weak. The teachers were familiar with the HIV/AIDS Workplace policy but the pupils had no idea that such a policy was in place. The administrators encountered a number of problems in the flow of information about HIV and AIDS education due to lack of funds and lack of standard teaching materials. In line with the findings of the study the following were the recommendations; The Ministry of Education should spend more money on programmes meant for sensitising pupils and teachers about the HIV and AIDS Workplace Policy. In order to sustain all these strategies the MoE should encourage incentives to raise money as a way of reducing reliance on donors. In a more holistic manner the MoE should use the funds across a balanced agenda to include HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support and management of the responses in place. In order to ease the challenges faced by administrators to implement the HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy, wider involvement of representatives from communities surrounding the schools should be enhanced especially the catchment areas where most pupils come from.