PCF5: HIV/AIDS and access to learning

Title of session
HIV AIDS and access to learning

Session details

 * Date: Wednesday 16 July 2008
 * Time: 11:00 AM
 * Room: Drama Studio

Session papers

 * Pat Pridmore, Strengthening open learning to increase educational access in high HIV prevalence areas of sub‐Saharan Africa (292)
 * Raphael Tamean, Zero effectiveness on HIV/Aids awareness and the need for a separate HIV/AIDS curriculum in Papua New Guinea (570)
 * Shubhangi Vaidya, Capacity building for carers of children with learning disabilities (317)

Key Issues that arose in the session
-- Paper 1 --
 * Role of open learning and how to keep children in school in line with the MDGs
 * Media depends on Infrastructure
 * Edutainment packages proposed which require the participation of people going to use the material.
 * Teaching about HIV/AIDS early enough in schools

-- Paper 2 --
 * Local context – Sexual abuses, drugs, polygamy, lack of concern.
 * Study views Instructional time coverage about HIV./AIDS in the educational curriculum /formal system
 * Need to translate policy into curriculum

-- Paper 3 --
 * Ethnographic study of children with Autism
 * Mother and Child 3 month programme provided by new NGO (Action for Autism)
 * IGNOU to provide awareness and training packages

Points for future action (Policy, recommendations, commitments etc.)

 * Demonstrate how research can influence policy thru an intervention model that is Low Cost + Increases Motivation + Is close to traditions, e.g. Keep-Up Clubs, School in the bag, Interactive Radio Instruction programs; Sponsored broadcasts; How to ensure continuity/empowerment
 * Need for ongoing institutional support from university councils and management at different levels to support ODL methods; Creation of 7 modules for HIV/AIDS educational programme in PNG


 * Regarding autism and other developmental disabilities, there is a need for sensitization since mother and child are stigmatized; also for lifelong learning and ODL methods to provide for basic care techniques; also to build communities since paucity of Autism professionals, e.g. in Delhi there are ONLY 2 child psychologists!