From a distance: HIV interventions for out-of-school youth

Education is a key protective factor against HIV. But school dropouts are increasing in many affected countries. We urgently need new ways to deliver the ‘education vaccine’. Can open, distance and flexible learning (ODFL) meet this need? Researchers from the Institute of Education, University of London, address this question through field studies in Mozambique and South Africa.

ThroughODFL, learners can choose the time, place and pace of their study. A significantproportion of the teaching is done by someone removed in space and/or time fromthe learner. In health education, ODFL has helped to:

• increase access to education (especiallyfor remote or marginalised groups)
• enhance school quality toincrease child survival and family health
• raise public awareness andaction on health initiatives
• encourage people to practise healthybehaviours.

Theresearchers carried out field studies in South Africa and Mozambique to examine some of the key ODFLinitiatives being undertaken to translate national HIV and AIDS policy intopractice, and consider how ODFL might be further developed. In both of thesecountries, AIDS has been declared an emergency threatening development, peace,and stability. The researchers analysed policy and strategy documents, togetherwith agency reports and academic critiques. They also interviewed policymakersand administrators in the national AIDS councils, ministries, international andnational development agencies and non-governmental organisations and youngpeople.

They foundthat in both countries the response of the education sector has focused largelyon the curriculum to provide relevant information, life skills and the teacher trainingto deliver them though schooling. There are few strategies to address the needsof out-of-school youth, even though children are increasingly missing lessons,dropping out of school and unable to access the national curriculum or developbasic literacy, numeracy or livelihood skills.

In South Africa, ODFL efforts to prevent the spreadof HIV have largely relied on television and media campaigns such as Soul City, LoveLifeand Khomanani. In Mozambique, where lack of infrastructurereduces opportunities for mass media campaigns, HIV prevention methods are mostlyface-to-face with some ODFL support materials, such as My Future My Choice and Geracao Biz. Experience with these programmes has shownthat to be successful young people must participate in the design andimplementation of the activities to make sure they are tailored to theirliteracy levels and real-life contexts.

There isnow a real opportunity to change policy, accelerate the educational responseand transform ineffective systems. But for this to happen there is a need toradically rethink ways that education can be delivered. ODFL could play a muchgreater role in such educational reforms by sharing the burden schools face andhelping to integrate responses to learner’s needs more effectively.

Suggestionsfor ODFL responses are given at three levels:

• at the individual level: ODFL canreach young people through life skills handbooks, youth magazines,newspaper supplements and psychosocial support programmes. It can alsohelp young people to enter the job market by teaching business andmanagement skills and giving careers counselling. Information targeted atinfected parents can help them to write a will and plan an inexpensivefuneral.
• at the school and communitylevels: ODFL can deliver the national curriculum more flexibly, so thatyoung people who are out of school do not fall behind with their lessonsand can re-enter school more easily. ODFL materials can also improveteachers’ ability to empathise with affected young people and to providepsychosocial guidance and counselling.
• at the national level: there is aneed to develop, coordinate and disseminate the national information baseon HIV and AIDS.

Theresearchers conclude that although the ODFL response to the need ofout-of-school young people is growing, it lacks the necessary urgency, remainsunfocused, and is limited in how to cope.