the impact of hiv/aids on the education sector in tanzania

1.3 Conceptual framework
This study covers three concepts: policy, leadership and advocacy. All three are key to
driving effective interventions. Government involvement is crucial in <strong>the</strong> fight against
HIV/AIDS, in terms <strong>of</strong> appropriate HIV/AIDS policy formulation, leadership commitment in
<strong>the</strong> prevention and control <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> epidemic and strong advocacy.
1.3.1 Policy
Formulation <strong>of</strong> an appropriate and effective HIV/AIDS education policy will guide <strong>the</strong>
implementation <strong>of</strong> education programmes, projects and strategies geared to <strong>the</strong> prevention and
control <strong>of</strong> HIV/AIDS in <strong>the</strong> education sector. There are no easy quantitative or qualitative
criteria for what constitutes appropriate planning for AIDS or for how an AIDS policy should
be integrated into national planning, policy and budget systems, at both <strong>the</strong> macro and micro
levels.
The national policy on HIV/AIDS was launched in November 2001. It provides <strong>the</strong>
framework, direction and general principles <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> national response interventions in three
focus areas:
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� prevention <strong>of</strong> transmission <strong>of</strong> HIV;
� care and support for those infected and affected by <strong>the</strong> virus, and
� mitigation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>impact</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> epidemic.
The national policy has highlighted <strong>the</strong>se areas in order to convey something <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
complexity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> situation in which an education sector policy must be developed and
implemented. The policy must be sensitive to <strong>the</strong> cross-sectoral <strong>impact</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> epidemic; <strong>the</strong>
social, ethical, legal, cultural and economic issues associated with it require differential
responses from all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> affected sectors.
1.3.2 Leadership
Leadership commitment is critical for spearheading <strong>the</strong> effective and efficient
implementation <strong>of</strong> HIV/AIDS interventions. In <strong>the</strong> context <strong>of</strong> this study, this commitment
may be manifested through public speeches, circulars or o<strong>the</strong>r information that outlines
priorities. Leadership may also be manifested through proactive HIV/AIDS policy
formulation, <strong>the</strong> structural reorganization <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> education sector or <strong>the</strong> provision <strong>of</strong> adequate
funding for HIV/AIDS activities. Shellukindo, Muhondwa, Lyimo, Tibakweitira and Seikh
(2000) argue that any leader who fails to view AIDS as a serious threat to <strong>the</strong> economy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
country, or as having a serious <strong>impact</strong> on <strong>the</strong> health and social welfare <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people, cannot
be expected to devise and implement policies that seek to create an environment that is
supportive <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> attempts <strong>of</strong> ordinary people to protect <strong>the</strong>mselves against HIV infection.
Similarly, an elected leader who dare not speak out against cultural practices that ostensibly
contribute to HIV transmission, for fear <strong>of</strong> annoying <strong>the</strong> electorate, cannot be an effective ally
in <strong>the</strong> fight against HIV/AIDS. Strong leadership is required if behaviour is to change and if
<strong>the</strong> spread <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> epidemic at <strong>the</strong> national level is to be brought under control.
In Tanzania HIV/AIDS has been declared a national disaster, one that senior figures,
like <strong>the</strong> President and <strong>the</strong> Prime Minister, are keen to engage with. The Prime Minister has
directed that HIV/AIDS be placed on <strong>the</strong> agenda for all meetings. However, few