World AIDS Day: Education is Prevention
AIDS Impacts Education in Africa
AIDS has had a profound impact on education in Africa; 860,000 children have lost their teachers to AIDS. As qualified teachers die from the disease, education quality and student enrollment are impacted. In Swaziland, school enrollment has dropped 36% due to the pandemic. An estimated 10% of the teachers in the worst affected African countries are expected to die. There are accounts of AIDS killing teachers faster than some countries can train them. A new UNAIDS report analyzes the situation and the repercussions of the AIDS pandemic on the future of the continentÂ’s development, particularly regarding the role of education for girls.
AIDS and Teacher Training
Education International has launched, as part of a global partnership, a two year training program that will reach 10,000 teachers in 13 countries in Southern and Western Africa and in Haiti. Teachers are being trained to raise awareness, lead prevention efforts, and contribute to sexually responsible behavior. The World Health Organization (WHO), UNAIDS, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and the Dutch Trade Union Center have partnered in this important project.