HIV and AIDS workplace policy: An implementation assessment of strategies in selected secondary schools of Lusaka and Northern provinces

Abstract

Using qualitative and quantitative approaches, this study investigated the extent to which teachers and secondary school pupils were benefiting from the strategies that were being implemented in secondary schools of Lusaka and Northern Provinces as workplaces in relation to the HIV and AIDS Workplace Policy. It tried to provide insight into the responses of pupils and teachers to the HIV and AIDS Workplace Policy. It was undertaken to establish if the strategies as stipulated in the HIV and AIDS Workplace policy of the Ministry of Education were benefiting the intended targets. The findings were that the stakeholders were aware of the challenges posed by HIV and AIDS but a lot more needed to be done, in terms of effective implementation of strategies in place. As at yet there was no systematic inclusion of HIV and AIDS in the curriculum hence teachers finding it difficult to teach in class. Teaching and learning materials proved to be a challenge since they were not standardized. Teachers had problems teaching since it was just a fraction of them who were trained to fuse HIV and AIDS teaching in their lessons. The study recommended that the curriculum should be standardized at secondary school level through systematic inclusion in the curriculum. All teachers should be trained in HIV and AIDS teaching as well as life skills. HIV and AIDS should become an alone standing subject which should be examinable.