Project Database
EFAIDS Programme
| Country: | Saint Lucia |
| Start Date: | 2007-01-01 |
| Deadline: | 2010-12-31 |
| Host organisations: |
St. Lucia Teachers’ Union
(SLTU)
|
| Co-operating organisations: |
Education International (EI)
World Health Organisation (WHO) Education Development Center (EDC) |
| Related Links: | |
| Grouping: | EI Education For All-HIV/AIDS Prevention (EFAIDS) Programme |
Project Summary:
Within the EFAIDS Programme, SLTU is deeply committed to the goal of ensuring access to education for all and the continued education of its members on HIV and AIDS and has been . For SLTU, the fight against HIV requires attitudinal and behavioural change.
Activities in 2008
The SLTU HIV/AIDS education committee organised training sessions for a total of 76 teachers, who in turn conducted workshops at their respective schools. These workshops were facilitated by branch representatives and selected shop stewards who had been previously trained by the union’s HIV/AIDS committee members.
The training introduced the Teachers’ Exercise Book on HIV/AIDS Education and the EFAIDS toolkits to the participants, as well as clarifying issues related to the spread of HIV/AIDS and the gender dimension of the epidemics and making participants aware of the impact of HIV/AIDS on the education sector. The National Aids Programme Secretariat (NAPS) contributed financial and technical support. The work of SLTU under the EFAIDS Programme is applauded by the government and the union is represented on the Ministry of Education’s Sector HIV/AIDS committee.
The Caribbean Regional Workshop for EFAIDS was held in St Lucia in 2008.
Working on policy development, the union reviewed its Code of Ethics, in light of the guiding principles highlighted in the EFAIDS toolkit, “Building a Gender Friendly School Environment”.
The union also promoted a broad consultation process to develop an AIDS policy, using the EFAIDS toolkit ‘Inclusion is the Answer’ as a guide. This policy aims to encourage a better understanding of HIV and AIDS in the school environment, minimise the socio-economic and developmental effects that HIV & AIDS has on the future productivity of education sector, and prohibit discrimination on the basis of HIV&AIDS status or perceived HIV&AIDS status; Furthermore the policy will promote school environment in which people living with HIV&AIDS can be open about their status without fear of stigma and discrimination or rejection and promote the implementation of HIV&AIDS education programmes in educational institutions aimed at providing support and awareness.
Working on advocacy, SLTU continued to engage in dialogue with the Ministry of Education and to lobby for teachers to be adequately equipped with the skills needed to cope with the challenges brought about by the change from selective secondary education to universal secondary education. The Ministry has given the undertaking to work with the union to ensure that a programme is put in place to assist teachers in acquiring the necessary skills, which is an important step towards improving the quality of education in Saint Lucia.
Similar projects elsewhere in the region:
Antigua and Barbuda - EFAIDS Programme Belize - EFAIDS Programme Dominica - EFAIDS Programme Grenada - EFAIDS Programme Guyana - EFAIDS Programme Haiti - EFAIDS Programme Jamaica - EFAIDS Programme Saint Kitts and Nevis - EFAIDS Programme Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - EFAIDS Programme Suriname - EFAIDS Programme Trinidad and Tobago - EFAIDS Programme
