Interagency Youth Working Group

Other than family members, teachers are often the main adults with whom young people interact on a daily basis. Ideally, as trusted gatekeepers of information, people who teach about reproductive health and HIV/AIDS should function as role models, advocate for healthy school environments, and provide correct and age-appropriate information to their students.

 

In many schools, however, reproductive health education for young people consists of didactic lectures about basic anatomy and physiology. This is hardly surprising, because most training programs fail to prepare future teachers to teach the subject effectively. As a result, many teachers complete their training with critical gaps in their own knowledge of reproductive health. Some have judgmental attitudes or religious, legal, or moral objections to teaching young people about sex, contraception, or condom use. Others simply feel uncomfortable talking about these subjects or using the interactive teaching methods that appear to be most effective in promoting healthy sexual behavior.

 

People who are best suited to teach young people about reproductive health and HIV/AIDS should:

Teacher Training: Essential for School-Based Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS Education. This report examines the importance of teacher training, the limited evidence in the field, elements of teacher training curricula, teacher selection issues, and teacher training projects in four African countries. (Family Health International/YouthNet, 2004)

Reducing HIV/AIDS Vulnerability Among Students in the School Setting: A Teacher Training Manual. This manual addresses the basics of growing up (understanding of adolescence), HIV/AIDS and drug abuse, HIV/AIDS and human rights, and care and support of people living with HIV/AIDS. (UNESCO/Bangkok, 2005)

 

Sexually Transmitted Infections: Briefing Kit for Teachers. This document has four chapters: understanding sexually transmitted infections (STIs), STI education, understanding young people's behavior, and teaching STI prevention. The goal is to inform teachers about STIs, young people's behavior, and basic principles and teaching techniques. (WHO, 2001)

 

School HIV/AIDS Resource Pack. Designed as a resource for teachers going through training to become AIDS awareness educators, it includes basic information on AIDS and eight simple classroom activities. (Volunteer Services Overseas)

 

Teaching About AIDS Made Easy: A Manual for Teachers of Grades 5, 6 and 7. This guide for teachers includes general information about AIDS, outlines skills for development by learners, reviews teaching methodologies, gives three sample lessons, and lists the qualities of a good HIV teacher. (Namibian Ministry of Basic Education and Culture)

Electronic Resources