HIV/AIDS and Education
UNESCO Bangkok's HIV/AIDS Coordination and School Health Unit works on a variety of issues related to Education. Its major goal is to strengthen the Education sector's response to the epidemic, both in terms of coverage of HIV prevention programmes for young people in and out of schools, and in terms of quality. A strong focus is placed on advocacy, HIV prevention education and school health, tackling stigma and discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS andtheir families, gender issues related to HIV/AIDS, and anticipation of the impact that HIV/AIDS may have on the education sector.
Advocacy
Education ministries, though in a perfect position to reach young people with information, knowledge and skills to prevent HIV/AIDS, remain under-funded and often dormant in their response to HIV/AIDS. With UNAIDS support, our unit has developed an advocacy toolkit for the education sector, aimed at initiating and strengthening education sector responses to HIV/AIDS. The toolkit aims to promote HIV/AIDS preventive education in both formal and non-formal settings, and to increase the understanding of those working in the education sector, especially mid- to senior level officials in Ministries of Education, about the relationship between HIV/AIDS and education and the impact of HIV/AIDS on the education system.
Preventive Education and School Health
In line with the new global initiative taken by UNESCO's Director General and within the context of the UNAIDS partnership, UNESCO aims to play a stronger coordinating role in enhancing financial and technical support for Ministries of Education to respond to HIV/AIDS across the region. While particular focus is put on HIV prevention, linking the potential of the Education Sector to enhance care and support responses (i.e. WHO's 3x5 initiative) is also emphasized, as well as interventions to decrease stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS (including teachers and students) or children affected by the pandemic. One strategy to improve coordination is the establishment of Partner Forums on HIV/AIDS and Education at the country and regional level.
UNESCO is enhancing HIV/AIDS research, policy and planning for prevention education for men who have sex with men in Thailand, Cambodia and Viet Nam, with support from UNAIDS and CDCs (Centers for Disease Control).
As part of ongoing technical assistance to ministries of education and UNESCO field offices, UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau for Education has developed two different generic teacher training manuals:
" One manual on how teachers can integrate HIV prevention into existing subjects in secondary schools. This manual has been used in several countries in Southeast and South Asia (supported by JFIT (Japanese Funds-in-Trust), UNAIDS and GTZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit). and was recently updated (early 2005).
" One on HIV/AIDS in the broader context of school health. This manual was developed in Uzbekistan and will be adapted for use in Kazakhstan and other low prevalence countries (supported by UNAIDS).
Gender and HIV/AIDS
Recognizing that understanding and addressing gender relations is a key component in HIV/AIDS prevention education, UNESCO, in collaboration with UNICEF, worked with the Ministry of Education in Thailand on a study on sexual harassment by teachers and peers in public secondary schools in Thailand. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used to explore the extent of sexual harassment in schools, contributing factors, and policies and procedures that are in place.
Technical Assistance
UNESCO is providing and coordinating technical assistance in the field of HIV/AIDS and education in the region. Five full-time national program officers have been hired at the moment. These officers will:
1. Translate, adapt and launch the advocacy toolkit on HIV/AIDS and Education (see above);
2. Help national-level coordination networks of ministries of education, and UN and NGOs involved in HIV prevention education and school health to prevent overlap and improve collaboration;
3. Review existing curricula and teaching/learning methods for the purpose of HIV prevention education, and develop models and guidelines for nation-wide coverage.
Analysis of responses for children affected by AIDS in Thailand
Together with UNICEF, UNESCO has carried out an analysis of responses to children affected by AIDS in Thailand. The aim is to identify structures and strategies that can be implemented/strengthened by the Thai government in partnership with others to ensure holistic care and support of HIV/AIDS affected children in Thailand. The analysis describes and assesses the quality of care and support HIV/AIDS affected children receive in community based as well as institutional settings. The analysis has led to new projects in Northen Thailand, funded through the UNESCO Foundation for Children in Need, to be implemented in 2005-2007.
