Factors that influence the implementation of life skills HIV/AIDS programmes in some selected primary schools in rural settings in Oshana Region in Namibia

Date
2011-03
Authors
Sakaria, Ester
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In order to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the Ministry of Education in Namibia realized that it was better to focus on young children who are at the phase of behaviour formation. Consequently the life skills HIV/AIDS programme, Window of Hope, was introduced to cater for all children in grades 4-7 (aged ± 9-14 years). In order to realize this initiative, the Ministry started to train two teachers per school, who should implement the programme in their schools. However, it has been noted with concern that some teachers who were trained do no implement the programme. The research aims at finding out why some teachers who underwent training do not implement Window of Hope in their schools. In this research, information was sought from the three categories of people who are mainly involved in the monitoring and implementation of Window of Hope life skills programme, namely the education officer (RACE coordinator), principals and teachers. Interviews were conducted with the education officer and the principal to find out the successes and challenges they experienced in monitoring the implementation of the programme. Self-administered questionnaires were used to obtain information from the teachers. Findings indicated teachers who are supposed to implement the life skills HIV/AIDS programmes in the schools feel overburdened to work extra hours in the afternoons, and teachers who are supposed to act as facilitators of such life skills HIV/AIDS programmes also felt that they do not get sufficient time to prepare for efficient presentations of activities in the programmes. Principals as supervisors who are supposed to monitor the activities of the life skills HIV/AIDS programmes feel they were not empowered to monitor the activities of such programmes. There are insufficient financial resources available that could used to purchase the materials needed for effective programme implementation. Teacher-facilitators indicated that they did not receive adequate training that could empower them to address issues such as sexuality. However, most participants indicated that the programme has managed to equip learners who took part in it with skills such as assertiveness, and increased their knowledge on how to protect themselves from getting HIV/AIDS.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Om VIGS te beveg het die onderwys owerhede besef dat dit beter is om aandag aan jong mense, wat besig is om gewoontes te leer, te vestig. Daarom is VIGS-programme soos “Window of Hope” begin wat te doen het met kinders tussen grade 4-7 (ouderdomsgroepe van ± 9-14). Om hierdie program te begin het die owerhede twee onderwysers per skool begin oplei, om die program in hul skole te begin. Dit het later aan die lig gekom dat sommige van die onderwysers wat opgelei was nie die program by hulle skole toegepas het nie. Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om uit te vind hoekom sommige onderwysers wat opgelei was nie die program by hulle skole uitgevoer het nie. Hierdie navorsing het aandag gevestig op drie groepe wat met toesig en toepassing van die program “Window of Hope” belas is, naamlik die onderwysbeamptes, onderwysers en skoolhoofte. Onderhoude is gevoer met die onderwysbeamptes en skoolhoofte om uit te vind wat die sukses en teenstande wat hulle teegekom het in toesighouding en toepasing van die program. Die onderwysers wat opgelei was het vraelyste ontvang om meer lig te werp op teenstand en voorspoed wat hulle teegekom het tydens die toepasing van hierdie program, en die voorstelle wat hulle kon gee. Bevindinge het getoon dat die onderwysers wat die program by die skole in die namiddae sou toepas het gevoel dat hulle te veel werk het. Onderwysers wat VIGS-programme organiseer het gevoel hulle kry nie genoeg tyd vir voorbereiding nie. Die skoolhoofte het gevoel dat hulle nie genoeg toegerus was om hierdie taak te verrig nie. Min hulp is van streekskantoor ontvang in terme van materiaal en leiding oor die toepasing van “Window of Hope” program. Hierdie navorsing het ook aangetooi dat daar nie genoeg geldelike bronne beskikbaar is wat kon gebruik word om materiaal te koop wat vir effektiewe toepassing van “Window of Hope” program gebruik kan word. Die onderwysers wat deelgeneem het, het aangedui dat hulle nie genoeg opleiding gekry wat hulle in staat sou stel om alle sake oor VIGS soos geslagtelikheid aan te pak nie. Meeste van die deelnemers het nietemin gevoel dat die program leerders wie deelgeneem het toegerus het met vaardighede soos stelligheid, en hul kennis verbreed oor hoe om hulself teen MIV/VIGS te beskerm.
Description
Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.
Keywords
Dissertations -- Industrial psychology, Theses -- Industrial psychology, Assignments -- Industrial psychology, Dissertations -- HIV/AIDS management, Theses -- HIV/AIDS management, Assignments -- HIV/AIDS management, Window of Hope, Life skills programme for primary school children -- Namibia -- Oshana Region, HIV/AIDS -- Prevention -- Namibia -- Oshana region
Citation