Improving HIV and AIDS responses in teachers education

3 March 2006: Responding to the challenges of HIV and AIDS within the education sector, UNESCO Maputo today signed an agreement with the Mozambican Ministry of Education and Culture on implementing a project to build the capacity of teacher training institutions. The project is funded by Japan with a budget of 225 USD over two years.

“HIV and AIDS are the greatest challenges and potential threats to the education sector in this country. In spite of progress that might be made, the epidemic can affect all parts of the education system and reverse the gains. Targeting the education sector is definitely one of the most important tools in responding to the epidemic”, says Mr. Benoit Sossou, UNESCO Representative in Maputo. The project “Building Capacity for HIV and AIDS Responses in Teachers’ Education Institutions” aim at improving the quality of basic education through innovative training of teacher trainers and production of guidelines for the implementation of

Minister of Education and Culture in Mozambique, Mr. Aires Bonafácio Alí shaking hands with UNESCO Maputo Representative, Mr. Benoit Sossou after signing the project. Photo:Nina Bull Jørgensen, UNESCO

HIV/AIDS preventive education in Teachers’ Education Institutions.

“We have to use all possible channels in the combat against HIV and AIDS. This project will be an important contribution, disseminating very important information in the education system“, says Minister of Education and Culture, Mr. Aires Bonafácio Alí

The project has been developed within the context of EDUCAIDS, a Global initiative to help Governments take necessary actions to protect the education system from the effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and ESSPII, the Mozambican Education Sector Strategic Plan for 2006-2009. Furthermore the project is in line with the Mozambican Poverty Reduction Strategy (PARPA) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). Implementing partners include UNFPA and Pathfinder International.

Although HIV/AIDS is included in the basic education curriculum in Mozambique, the needs of the education system are not completely met, especially because the future teachers are not systematically trained to deal with HIV/AIDS related issues. Hence the new UNESCO/MEC project target the Teacher Education Institutions responsible for the training of teachers to the basic education in Mozambique (IMAPS).


The target groups and beneficiaries of the project are:

• 55 teachers from Teacher’s Education Institutions
• Professionals from INDE, working on Teachers Training curricula reform
• 11 teacher’s Education Institutions from 11 Provinces in Mozambique
• Teachers at institutions benefiting from training by the selected 55 teachers
• 1400 school communities where students will ultimately live and teach when they graduate

Facts about HIV and AIDS in the education sector of Mozambique

• With an estimated HIV prevalence of almost 16% among adults (15-49 years old), Mozambique ranks amongst the 10 most affected countries in the world.
• The high prevalence and continuing increase is associated with structural factors such as poverty, gender inequality, cultural conditions and high levels of labour mobility.
• The Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC) in Mozambique is the biggest employer in the country, currently employing approximately 60,000 primary teachers and 7,500 secondary teachers.
• As there is yet no cure, the number of teachers affected by the disease is rising, and access to treatment is limited. Projections of deaths from AIDS-related illness among teachers are expected to reach almost 17% in 2015.
• In 2006 it is expected that HIV and AIDS will increase the cost of education by 5% - equivalent to 7 million US$.
• A dramatic increase of orphans is expected from the current 10% to 18% in primary school and from 11% to 27% in secondary school by 2015.
  (Source: the Education Sector Strategic Plan, ESSPII 2005-2009)

For more information please contact Zulmira Rodrigues, Project Officer z.rodrigues@unesco.org or Nina Bull Jørgensen, Communications Officer, UNESCO Maputo nb.jorgensen@unesco.org
Tel: (+258)21493434

Links:
Project document