MST-Department of Educational Foundation

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Browsing MST-Department of Educational Foundation by Subject "Aids (Disease)--Kenya"

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    The influence of Teachers' Preparedness of Quality of Teaching HIV/AIDS Curriculum in Primary Schools in Ol joro orok Division, Nyandarua District, Kenya
    (2011-12-16) Thendu, Peter Githu
    The major objective of this study was to analyze the preparedness of teachers in teaching Human Immuno Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) curriculum in primary schools. The rationale for the study was that the curriculum was introduced in primary schools in December 1999 and teachers as implementers are supposed to ensure its success. However, the teachers' preparedness to teach the curriculum has not been explored. The study used a framework that conceptualized the indicators for teachers' preparedness as a means to successful achievement of the objectives of the HIV/AIDS curriculum. These were, teachers' psychological readiness to teach, teachers' professional background and training levels, use of effective teaching and learning approaches, use of suitable teaching/learning materials and teachers' sensitivity to language, cultural and religious beliefs. In this regard, teachers preparedness was construed as a synergy between the five variables and the effective implementation of HIV/AIDS curriculum. The study was mainly descriptive and utilised a survey design in the collection, analysis and reporting data. A sample of six primary schools in Ol Joro orok division of Nyandarua district was taken. The district was purposively chosen because it had one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in Central Province. Ol Joro division had the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the district (NACC 2003). The sample for the study consisted of 48 teachers, 6 headteachers, 270 pupils and one Teacher's Advisory Centre (TAC) tutor from the division. Various data collection instruments were used to gather information from the respondents. These were:- questionnaires for teachers and pupils, interview schedules for headteachers and the TAC tutor, Focused Group Discussions for teachers and pupils, and an observation schedule. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used were used for data analysis and reporting. Results from the study indicate that the preparedness of teachers to teach the curriculum was being hindered by a number of factors. First, the study established that teachers' psychological readiness to teach was hampered by the traditional beliefs, which considered talking openly about sex to the youth a taboo. Some religious denominations did not approve of some of the HIV/AIDS preventive measures which teachers were supposed to teach such as the use of condoms. The stigma, associated with the AIDS scourge also affected the teachers' psychological readiness. Infected and / or affected teachers were not courageous enough to talk about the AIDS pandemic. In addition, AIDS messages impacted negatively on the learners who were either infected or infected. Second, although most teachers in primary schools were professionally qualified, they experienced difficulties in teaching the curriculum due to lack of knowledge and teaching techniques. Thirdly, the teaching methods recommended in the HIV/AIDS education syllabus were not being used. Teachers attributed this to lack of appropriate inservice or preservice Teachers Education which should have taken place before the curriculum was introduced in schools. Fourth, the teaching and learning materials for HIV/AIDS curriculum were noted to be lacking in most schools. Overall, this study concluded that teachers' preparedness to teach was a crucial aspect if the goals of the HIV/AIDS curriculum were to be realised in primary schools. The provision of basic teaching and learning materials would greatly avert the haphazard manner in which the curriculum was being taught. Finally, there is need to minimise the gap created between the traditional beliefs and religious affiliations on the one hand and the preparedness of teachers to teach the HIV/AIDS curriculum on the other