DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2016.v04i05.015

Pages: 570-575

The first confirmed case of HIV/AIDS was reported in 1985 in Zimbabwe. Since then there have been reported cases of increases in the number of people who are said to be HIV positive with the majority of them succumbing to the AIDS pandemic. Although the discovery and use of ARVs is a welcome development, HIV/AIDS remains a threat to human development. It has to be acknowledged that the interventions such as the use of ARVs have alleviated the challenges and threats imposed by HIV/AIDS, but it remains a threat to human life. It is within this context that the values, perceptions and attitudes of people have to be changed. Education becomes critical in bringing about that change in people’s values, attitudes, perceptions and life styles. As an intervention measure, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in Zimbabwe introduced HIV/AIDS Education in schools. In addition to this, the Zimbabwe government introduced the AIDS levy on all workers in Zimbabwe in 2002. The National Aids Council (NAC) was also established to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS nationally. Despite these efforts AIDS remains a scourge in Zimbabwe. The purpose of the study was to assess the implementation of the HIV/AIDS Education programme is secondary schools. This has been prompted by the reported cases of an increase in sexually transmitted diseases in institutions of higher learning. The study aimed at assessing the knowledge levels, values, perceptions, attitudes and practices of teachers and pupils in five secondary schools in Harare, Zimbabwe. In addition to assessing the different attributes in the teachers and pupils, the study also examined HIV/AIDS Education curriculum used in schools. The study used the mixed methodology and the descriptive survey design. Data was collected through the use of structured questionnaires, open-ended questionnaires and face-to-face interviews.