The Department of Basic Education (DBE) convened a seminar on the new Draft Integrated Strategy on HIV and AIDS, 2012 to 2016, at their DBE office in Pretoria, on Monday 7 March 2011. The draft strategy, announced by the Deputy Minister, Honourable Enver Surty, has been developed to respond to the most recent trends and evidence on the HIV epidemic and to ensure alignment of departmental plans with national plans as outlined in the HIV and AIDS and STI National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2007 to 2011.
The announcement of the draft strategy is timely as the country engages in an accelerated programme of action to focus and intensify implementation of the NSP. Over the past decade, the department has provided the HIV and AIDS Life Skills Education Programme, embedded in the curriculum across all grades, through the Life Orientation Learning Area. The primary goal is to improve knowledge about the transmission of HIV and build the skills of learners to make informed decisions.
The draft strategy sets the basis for a comprehensive and integrated response within the education system for all these key role-players.
The draft DBE strategy adopts a public health approach in line with the National Strategic Plan, with prevention, and treatment, care and support pillars. The strategy outlines seven outcome areas that will form the basis for programmatic interventions:
- Outcome 1 focuses on mainstreaming the response to HIV and AIDS across the schooling system including evaluation and reporting systems.
- Outcome 2 focuses on strengthening sexual and reproductive health education delivered through the curriculum as well as its associated pedagogy and teaching and learning material.
- Outcome 3 supplements the curriculum with co-curricular activities such as peer education programmes to re-enforce messaging and to shift social norms on risk behaviours.
- Outcome 4 focuses on equipping educators, through pre-service and in-service training and development, with the requisite knowledge and skills to effectively deliver the life skills curriculum and to respond to their own needs on sexual and reproductive health, including HIV.
- Outcome 5 focuses on increasing access to sexual and reproductive health and HIV services for learners, educators, school support staff and officials. Service provision for educators, school support staff and officials must be integrated within existing employee wellness programmes.
- Outcome 6 requires schools to develop comprehensive safety plans that include components on physical safety as well as psychological or emotional safety, including zero tolerance of discrimination, stigma and any form of sexual harassment/abuse.
- Outcome 7 uses pro-poor policies such as school feeding and no-fee schools to prevent and mitigate the impact of HIV on learners infected and affected by HIV.
The deputy minister formally opened the consultation process on the draft strategy at the seminar. Consultations will take place at national and provincial levels during 2011, to refine and finalise the strategy and ensure its alignment to the new NSP.
The summary and full versions of the strategy can be viewed by clicking here.
The public is encouraged to send comments, inputs and suggestions by 30 September 2011 to hivstrategy@dbe.gov.za.
Source: Department of Basic Education
