Department of School Education
Memorandum to Primary Principals
-
91/162(S.103)
I refer you to the Memorandum to Primary Principals, 90.023 (S.015),
which accompanied the document AIDS - Information For Teachers in the
Primary School. This Memorandum encouraged all primary school
teachers to use the document as a -reference for responding
accurately and sensitively to students' incidental questions and
concerns regarding HIV/AIDS
Since the issue of that Memorandum and accompanying Document, the
incidence of HIV infection in the community including school
communities, has continued to :rise.
There are, and will be in future, a number of circumstances in. which
a primary school should take action to deal with HIV/AIDS education
in a planned and structured way. This includes those schools where
there are children known to be :HIV positive, schools where parents
specifically request a program and wish to be involved in it., and
schools where particular conditions exist which require special
protective activities (eg where syringes and condoms are left
overnight in playgrounds or near the school), etc.
In such circumstances, a planned school based HIV/AIS ectucation
program may be taught within the context of a Personal Development
program. Teachers should use the document AIDS - Information for
teachers in the primary schools a guide for answering students'
questions and draw appropriate content from the Primary HIV/AIDS
Education Support materials which are attached.
The design, development and implementation of an HIV/AIDS education
program must occur only with the strong support of the parents and
under the following conditions:
(1)That the steps taken in coming to a decision about the introduction. of the program recognise the existence of a diversity of views within the community.
(2) That the parents of the children to be involved are fully consulted and informed about the content and coverage of the program and the resources to be used. Where parents are not fluent in English, particular care should be taken to assist them in understanding the aims and coverage of all the materials.
(3) That the parents, in consultation with the staff, decide whether the program will be offered to -
( a) children only or parents and children together
(b) co-educational or single-sex groups.
(4.) That written parental agreement is received before any child is involved in the program.
(5) That parents have the.right to withdraw their children from the program and that, in such circumstances, an educationally sound alternative is provided by the school.
(6) That the Principal ensures that the program content and resource materials are very carefully assessed in relation to their suitability for use with the school pupils concerned and their acceptability by the parents.
(7) That the Principal ensures that the teachers are' adequately prepared, both personally and professionally, to teach the program and that they are aware of the sensitivity of this area of education which -(a} involves not merely the giving of information but also the development of.healthy, caring attitudes towards oneself and others;
(b) requires open and understanding discussion with parents and a recognition and acceptance of the range of values and beliefs ..that exist within the community.
(8) That the fundamental importance of the teacher's responsibility for planning,implementing, monitoring and evaluating the program is recognised and accepted.
9) That under no circumstances is the teacher to abrogate responsibility in favour of a visiting resource person. If outside resource personnel are to be involved in the program, great care should be exercised in supervising -(a) their selection;
(b) their preparation by the teacher for involvement in.the classroom situation;
(c) their lesson content and resource materials which should be prepared in consultation with the teacher and closely vetted and approved by the Principal;
(d) their presentation.
NB At all times such personnel should work alongside the classroom
teacher who continues to have the responsibility for planning and
teaching the program as part of a wider program of Personal
Development. (See also the policy on Resource Personnel and Outside
:Helpers in School Programs - Section 3.1.25 in the Handbook for
Teachers.)
(10)That the agreement of each new group of parents must be sought for the continuation of the program from one year to the next.
Denis W Ralph
Acting Director General of School Education
.NOTE: Where a primary school recognises the need for an HIV/AIDS
education program, the extent of the content in any program will
depend on the needs of the student group. Teaching about HIV/AIDS
must occur within the context of a Personal Development program and
must have the involvement and strong support of parents.
On fulfilment of these conditions and the other conditions set out in
the
Memorandum to Primary Schools, 91/162 (S.103), appropriate content
can be drawn from the following support materials to meet the needs
of students.
AIM: To assist in reducing the incidence of HIV infection amongst
young people.
KNOWLEDGE OBJECTIVES
KNOWLEDGE OUTCOMES
HIV - Human immunodeficiency Virus is the virus which causes AIDS
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
HIV severely weakens the immune system. causing he immune system to
break down
H[V often results in serious illness or death
HIV is transmitted in 3 main ways:
through,h sexual contact
blood to blood;
mother to child (in utero)
- it you don't let other people's blood or body fluids get into your
bloodstream through cuts or tears in your skin. you cannot become
infected
SKILLS OBJECTIVES
To develop students ability to:
act on their decisions to practise
and maintain good health
effectively communicate their
decisions to others
identify those behaviours and practices
that place people at risk of HlV 'infection
SKILLS OUTCOMES
Students should be able to:
demonstrate and practise behaviours for long term maintenance of' good health. eg. good nutriton, regular exercise. hygiene, adequate rest and sleep
be able to say no assertively to others in situations which .may present a risk to health eg. blood brothers, sharing ear piercing instruments, (reference to such matters as sharing drug needles and syringes, unprotected sexual contact should be made only if appropriate to the needs of the particular students involved)
demonstrate self-protection and safe practices (eg. disposable gloves, bleach, if handling blood or other body fluids during blood spills or accidents
ATTITUDES OBJECTlVES
Students should be encouraged to:
respect people living with HIV/AIDS
value safe practices that will lower the risk of
ATTITUDE OUTCOMES
Students should:
not be afraid of people with HIV/AIDS
demonstrate compassion for people living with HIV/AIDS.
demonstrate an acceptance of safe practices l
value the importance of taking care of themselves and being alert in situations which may present a risk of infection '
HIV/AIDS SUPPORT
MATERIALS CONTENT GUIDELINES
HIV Human Irnmunodeficiency Virus
the virus which causes AIDS
AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
.
Immune System role in the body
how it relates to AIDS
No known cure for HIV infection or AIDS
HIV+ people may show no sign of illness or infection
HIV+ people are just as infectious as those :who have.AIDS
Good health practices
Poor health practices
The importance of maintaining good health practices
Goal setting skills as a means of self-monitonng good health
practices
Myths and facts of HIV transmission:
Facts:
l. Blood to blood contact -infected blood getting into cuts or tears
in the skin
-sharing ear piercing implements
- blood brothers ceremonies
-sharing injecting drug needles and syringes (if appropriate to needs
of students)
2. Sexual contact - unprotected sexual intercourse :with an infected
person (taught only withun the human sexuality component of an
approved Personal Development course. within this context. teacners
may be required to answer students questions about other sexual
practices. Although such questions and discussion are not intended to
be a set part ot the program teachers .would need to be prepared for
such situations.)
3. .Mother to child -during pregnancy approximately 30% of HIV
positive mothers pass the virus onto their unborn child
-a small number of HIV positive women have infected their babies
through breastmilk
How HIV transmission can be prevented:
Facts:
-using disposable gloves and bleach in blood spills and
accidentalwashing hands thoroughly with soap and water after being
.in contact with blood
-primary school students deciding not to have sexual intercourse
with any one at all
-by not sharing neeedles and syringes eg. ear piercing tattooing.
injecting insulin (or other drugs if appropriate for students)
blood brothers ceremonies.
Responsible decision making regarding maintenance of good health
Analysing/improving own health practices
Communication skills
Communicating your decisions to others
The effect of HlV in the community
The effect that HIV has on human life