Pre-Service Primary Teachers’ Preparation To Teach Integrated Hiv/Aids Awareness Curriculum In Kenyan Primary Schools

ABSTRACT

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 2004, the pandemic was given special attention by the Ministry of Education and the school curriculum was reviewed to integrate AIDS education. This study intended to find out what preparation pre-service teachers are given to teach integrated HIV and AIDS awareness education through seeking to find out the integrated HIV and AIDS awareness education related content in the Primary Teacher Education (PTE) curriculum. The second objective of the study was to establish the pedagogical approaches for teaching integrated HIV and AIDS used by tutors to teach integrated HIV and AIDS awareness curriculum in Primary Teacher Training Colleges (PTTCs). Thirdly, the methods preservice student teachers are taught to use in teaching HIV and AIDS related content were determined. The study also sought to find out the challenges faced by teacher educators in the implementation of integrated HIV and AIDS awareness curriculum in Primary Teacher Training Colleges. The last objective of the study was to find out the perceptions of the pre-service teachers about their preparedness to teach integrated HIV and AIDS awareness curriculum in primary schools. Descriptive survey research design was used in this study. The study locale was Kiambu County .The study targeted a population of 1620 student-teachers and 158 tutors. Random sampling was used to select 100 second year student- teachers representing 12.3% of the population. Purposive sampling helped to select 16 tutors from two colleges who represented 12.7 % of the tutors‘ population. Data was collected through analysis of the Primary Teacher Education (PTE) syllabus, interview schedules and questionnaires. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Data from interviews and open ended questions was transcribed and organized into themes and sub-themes, categories and sub-categories in order to answer the research questions. The study found that most of the integrated HIV and AIDS awareness education content is found in Primary Teacher Education (PTE) Integrated Science syllabus. It was also established that learner centred methods are used by tutors to teach integrated HIV and AIDS awareness education and that the pre-service teachers are taught to use learner centred methods to teach integrated HIV and AIDS awareness education. One of the challenges tutors face is lack of specialized pre- and / or in-service training in the teaching of integrated HIV and AIDS awareness curriculum. The study however found that pre-service teachers perceive that they had been adequately prepared to teach integrated HIV and AIDS awareness curriculum in primary schools. The study concluded that pre-service teachers are adequately prepared to implement the HIV and AIDS awareness curriculum. The study recommended that knowledge and skills in the practice of integration of HIV/AIDS awareness curriculum should be included in the pre-service education for PTE tutors.