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Full Length
Research Paper
Challenges facing headteachers
in implementation of AIDS education in secondary school
curriculum in Kenya: a case study of Busia, Bunyala and
Samia districts
Carolyne Aor Kwedho1,
Enose M.W. Simatwa1*, B. A. Ondigi
1*Department of Educational Management and Foundations, Maseno
University, Kenya.
2Kisii University College
*Corresponding author Email:
simatwae@yahoo.com
Received 20 October, 2010; Accepted 08
November, 2010
Globally, the impact of Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)
and Acquired Immune deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is one of the
major challenges to all sectors of the society. In Kenya,
HIV and AIDS was declared a national disaster in 1999. By
2003, the pandemic was given special attention by the
Ministry of Education and the school curriculum was reviewed
to integrate AIDS education. The purpose of this study was
to investigate challenges facing headteachers in the
implementation of AIDS education in secondary school
curriculum in Busia, Bunyala and Samia Districts and find
out how they were coping. Specifically, it focused on
challenges in induction of teachers, provision of teaching
and learning materials, supervision and evaluation of the
teaching of AIDS education. Descriptive survey research
design was used in this study. The study population was 56
headteachers, 423 teachers and 9784 students in 56 secondary
schools in Busia, Bunyala and Samia Districts. The study
sample consisted of 19 headteachers, 141 teachers, and 978
students in 19 secondary schools. Stratified random sampling
technique was used to select the sample. Data was collected
by questionnaires, interviews and document analysis. The
data from closed ended questions was analyzed using
descriptive statistics such as means and percentages and
data from interviews and open ended questions were
transcribed and organized into themes and sub-themes,
categories and sub-categories as they emerged. The study
found that in the implementation process the main challenges
experienced were intricacies in integration of AIDS
education in the curriculum, lack of specific objectives for
AIDS education, time limitation, bureaucracy in securing
learning materials, stigmatization, inadequate curriculum
materials, negative cultural practices, legal issues
pertaining to confidentiality and increased demand for
performance. In coping with these challenges, the
headteachers used the guidance and counseling personnel,
sourced for funds from Non-governmental organizations and
government agencies. Based on the findings, the study
concluded that in spite of lack of objectives for AIDS
Education the headteachers have the teacher personnel and
the infused components of AIDS education which they should
exploit on for successful implementation of AIDS Education.
The study recommended that the Ministry of Education needs
to incorporate specific objectives for AIDS Education in the
curriculum to facilitate efforts in implementation. The
findings of this study may be useful to the policy makers in
realizing the challenges facing implementation of AIDS
education in the districts; headteachers to discover
successful strategies for implementation; and in providing
baseline information for further research in the fight
against HIV and AIDS in Busia, Bunyala and Samia Districts.
Keywords: Challenges, Headteachers, Implementation, AIDS Education,
Busia, Bunyala and Samia Districts, Kenya |