Students’ perceptions of the implementation of the education sector HIV/AIDS policy in secondary schools: The case of Kakuuto County in Rakai District

Abstract

The study aimed at establishing the students’ perceptions of the implementation of the “education sector HIV/AIDS policy in secondary schools”. A case study was made in Kakuuto County in Rakai District. It was guided by three objectives namely; to establish students’ perceptions of the education sector HIV/AIDS policy, to examine the implementation of the education sector HIV/AIDS policy and to assess the challenges experienced in the implementation of the education sector HIV/AIDS policy in secondary schools in Kakuuto County. The study involved 129 respondents namely 80 students, 40 teachers, 8 head teachers and one District Education Officer. Self-administered questionnaire, interview guide, observation and documentary analysis were used to collect data. The data was collected, compiled, sorted, and organized in frequencies and percentages. Interpretations, analysis, conclusions and recommendations were then made. The study findings revealed that most students in both private and government aided secondary schools were aware of HIV/AIDS education policy and supported it in the campaign against AIDS. Most students showed positive support for the policy. Most head teachers, teachers and students in both private and government aided secondary schools were identified involved in the implementation of HIV/AIDS policy. HIV/AIDS policy was establish registering positive results but confronted by a number of challenges. It was then concluded that HIV/AIDS education policy is implemented in all secondary schools and that majority of head teachers, teachers and students are fully involved in its implementation in spite of challenges like financial and inadequate publications It was recommended that school authorities should design more strategies of generating income for HIV/AIDS education policy and that all head teachers, teachers and students should come in to support the policy by organizing more seminars, lessons and counseling sessions.