THE HIV/AIDS AND LIFE-SKILLS EDUCATION PROGRAMME FOR SCHOOLS IN ZIMBABWE. A CASE STUDY OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THE LUPANE AREA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

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1 THE HIV/AIDS AND LIFE-SKILLS EDUCATION PROGRAMME FOR SCHOOLS IN ZIMBABWE. A CASE STUDY OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THE LUPANE AREA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME by METHOD WALTER NDLOVU submitted in part fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in the subject DEVELOPMENT STUDIES at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: MRS A. LIEBENBERG November 2005 ****************

2 GLOSSARY OF TERMS ADP AIDS CDU HOPE HIV IEC MOESC MOHE NAC NACP NGO NO OVC REPSSI SAFAIDS STD STI SO PLWA UNAIDS UNICEF WVI VCT ZIMTA Area Development Programme Acquired Immune Deficiency syndrome Curriculum Development Unit Help Orphans Prevention Education Human Immunodeficiency Virus Information, Education and Communication Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture Ministry of Higher Education National AIDS Council National AIDS Coordination Programme Non-Governmental Organisation National Office Orphans and Vulnerable Children Regional Psychological Support Initiative Southern Africa HIV/AIDS Information Dissemination Services Sexually Transmitted Disease Sexually Transmitted Infection Support Office People Living With AIDS Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS United Nations International Children s Fund World Vision International Voluntary Counseling and Testing Zimbabwe Teachers Association ii

3 KEY TERMS Pandemic; Prevalence; Opportunistic infections; Bodily fluids; Implementation; Strategy; Delivery mode; Life-skill; Cascade; Life-expectancy; iii

4 ACKNOWLEGDEMENTS I wish to convey my appreciation and thanks to Mrs Anso Liebenberg for the scholarly guidance and encouragement she gave me during the preparation of this thesis. I also wish to thank my wife, Thembeka and my two sons Methembe and Melinkosi for their patience, understanding and sympathetic encouragement. A special thank you also goes to the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture in the Matabeleland North Region for granting me permission to collect data from their schools. Finally, I wish to acknowledge my deep appreciation to Him without whom nothing is possible. iv

5 SUMMARY This study investigates whether the HIV/AIDS and Life Skills Education Programme for schools was implemented in accordance with the Ministry s directives. It also seeks to establish whether the programme was effective or not by identifying and examining different implementation strategies and methodologies. Fieldwork was undertaken in the Lupane Area Development Programme where nine schools were randomly selected from sixteen primary schools. A total of nine headteachers responded to the heads questionnaire and fifty-eight Grade 4 to 7 teachers responded to the teachers questionnaire. The study reveals that to a very large extent the HIV/AIDS and Life-skills Education Programme was implemented from Grades 4 to 7 in the primary schools. However, substantial improvements still need to be made in mobilising reading and financial resources. More training and the introduction of more participatory methodologies need to be stepped up for the children to realise more benefits from this life skills education programme. v

6 TABLE OF CONTENTS Glossary of terms Key terms Acknowledgements Summary Contents Index ii iii iv v vi x CHAPTER 1 RESEARCH BACKGROUND 1.1 Introduction to the chapter Statement of the research problem Research objectives Delimitation/Scope of the study Importance of the study Research methodology Research techniques Chapter layout Conclusion 12 vi

7 CHAPTER 2 THE MEANING AND DISCUSSION OF HIV/AIDS. AN IN-DEPTH DEBATE ON THE SCHOOL PREVENTION STRATEGY AND SOME ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGIES 2.1. The introduction An overview of the HIV/AIDS pandemic What is HIV/AIDS? How is the virus transmitted? What are the symptoms of HIV/AIDS? Is there a treatment for HIV/AIDS? HIV/AIDS around the world HIV/AIDS in Africa and sub-saharan Africa The extent of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Zimbabwe The impact of HIV/AIDS The way forward Discussion of the role of education and strategies for the implementation The role of education in the fight against HIV and AIDS Why are schools important? Obstacles to HIV/AIDS education in schools The Window of Hope The thrust of the HIV/AIDS and Life-skills Education Programme Targeting Strategies for implementing HIV/AIDS and Life-skills Education Conclusion 41 vii

8 CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1 Introduction Research design Data collection procedures Sources of data Population Sampling Pre-testing Instruments for data collection Procedures Data analysis procedures Conclusion 52 CHAPTER 4 PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF DATA 4.1 Introduction Description of the sample Data presentation, analysis and discussion Was the HIV/AIDS and Life-skills education programme for schools implemented? Summary Sub-problem: If it was implemented, how effective was it? 56 viii

9 What human, material and financial resources have been put in place? Summary If the programme was implemented how effective was it? A survey of approaches and strategies that were put in place Summary and Conclusions 68 CHAPTER 5 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 5.1 Introduction Summary Conclusions and Recommendations Conclusions BIBLIOGRAPHY 74 APPENDICES 80 ix

10 INDEX Figure 1. 2 World-wide figures on HIV/AIDS 20 Figure 2. 2 Average life expectancy in 11 African countries 25 Figure 3.3 Example of how data will be presented 51 Figure 4.4 Implementation of the programme in schools 55 Figure 5.3 Resources put in place in relation to teachers 57 Figure 6.3 Resources put in place in relation to head teachers 59 x