HIV & AIDS and education

Education and HIV & AIDS are two issues which have often fallen under different spheres of responsibility, yet are inextricably linked.

The goals of universal primary education are increasingly unattainable as AIDS epidemics force children to drop out of school, and education is a vital part of any response to HIV.

It is essential that the knowledge that exists in these two separate fields be dovetailed. In 2003/4 ActionAid will work hard to prioritise HIV & AIDS as an issue that must be directly addressed by educators and not be left to others, thus mainstreaming HIV & AIDS into education work.

We will also ensure that HIV & AIDS responses draw on wider learning about what is effective in the field of education. To this end we will be bringing together education and HIV & AIDS advisors from across Asia, Latin America and Africa, to document case studies on HIV & AIDS and education. The focus will be on telling powerful stories - to give a human dimension that people can relate to - and to hook wider research and data on HIV & AIDS and education around this. We hope this research will reach education staff in other organisations, governments and donor bodies. This is part of an initiative called "Education Positive" which will lead to a major publication on HIV and education in 2004. 

photo : ©Gideon Mendel/ Corbis/ ActionAid