Challenges Faced in Supporting Peer Educators in Tanzanian

Primary Schools

Presented by Audiface Mammbai and Simon Gervas

Support for International Change

Arusha, Tanzania

Summary

• Background

• Description

• Lessons Learned

• Recommendations

Background

• 47% of Tanzania’s population is under age 19• 60% of girls and 55% of boys have

intercourse before age 18• Widespread misconceptions about HIV among

people under age 19

• Tanzanian youths are at risk for HIV

Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey, 2004-2005.

About Support for International Change (SIC)

• Provide mobile Voluntary Counseling and Testing

• Support people living with HIV

• Train and support community health Workers

• Providing education in the community

• Providing education in schools

Description

• A program to empower primary school students to teach each other about HIV

• 20 hours initial training, with follow up and support

• Over 60 schools

Strengths

• Program is a good idea

• Good PE Selection

• Students are creative

• Easy to motivate PE’s

• Good relationships with Field Officers

• Reinforces correct information

Failures

• Very few schools maintained active clubs

• “Active” clubs conducted only occasional education

• Teachers showed little cooperation

Lessons Learned• Poorly defined goals and overly optimistic

expectation of the program

• Lack of accountability by teachers and infrequent follow up with teachers by SIC staff and education authorities

• Poor implementation of the initial peer education training

• Teachers unmotivated to support the peer educators

Poorly defined goals and overly optimistic expectations of the

program

• Expected our program to be:

– Fully self-sustaining

– Led by primary students

– Supported by teachers and their superiors

– Requiring little follow up

Lack of accountability by teachers and infrequent follow up with teachers by SIC staff

and education authorities

• Teachers not making it a priority

• Educational administrators not making it a priority

• Without teachers nothing happened

Poor implementation of the initial peer education training

• Limited time during volunteer program

• Poor cooperation from the teachers and parents

• Poor selection and pupils being young

• Too many conflicting responsibilities for SIC Field officers

Teachers unmotivated to support the peer educators

• Overcrowded schools and too few teachers

• No support from head teachers or administrators

• “What’s in it for me?”

Reporting and Follow-up system

Ward Education Officer

Head Teacher

Peer Educators Teacher

Peer Educators

SIC Field Officer

Recommendations

• Develop a model with more emphasis on life skill promotion, stronger accountability, and a wider reach

Fight HIV Clubs Model

• These are fight HIV clubs in primary schools focused on HIV education through sports and games

• Life skills promotion

• Involving more students

• Working with education authorities for supervision

• Motivation for teachers

• Continued involvement of SIC Field Officers

Fight HIV Clubs Model

NEW Reporting and Follow-up system

Ward Education Officer

Head Teacher

Peer Educators Teacher

Peer Educators

SIC Field Officer

Who can lead the way to the HIV and AIDS Free Generation?

Thank you!

Questions?

Urio,A; Robert, R; Ramadhani, U; Amanya, J; Mammbai, A; Gervas, S; Churchman, E; Saloner, R; Kelling, S; and Mackey, E. “Challenges Faced in Supporting Peer Educators in Tanzanian Primary Schools.” Support for International Change, Arusha Tanzania. www.sichange.org