National
Education a casualty in HIV households: study
Special Correspondent
| Dropout rates are higher and attendance is lower; 2,386 people living with HIV and AIDS interviewed |
NEW DELHI: Though education is acknowledged to be the first line of defence against the spread of HIV and AIDS, the epidemic has a caused a large negative impact on the education of children from affected households. This is the finding of the latest study on the "Socio-Economic Impact of HIV and AIDS in India.'' The study, undertaken by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and supported by the National AIDS Control Organisation and the United Nations Development Programme, has found that not only enrolment of children from HIV households is lower than those from non-HIV households but also the dropout rates are higher and attendance is lower. The girl child is more likely to be withdrawn from school. "Since most of the HIV-infected persons are not only in their prime working age but are also often parents of young schoolgoing children, the epidemic would have an adverse effect on many aspects of child well-being,'' says the study. The impact on schooling has been gauged by comparing enrolment rates, the type of school attended and the attendance rate across HIV and non-HIV households. Most children from HIV households dropped out to take care of the sick or younger siblings, assist in household chores or to take up a job. Reasons such as "non interested in studies" and "education considered unnecessary" were higher among non-HIV households. But education is valued in HIV households though they are forced by circumstances to withdraw their children from school. For low attendance, reasons such as `parent unwell,' `fees not paid' and `had to look after younger siblings or attend to household chores' are higher among children from HIV households. Reasons such as `went out of station' and `had to attend social function' are higher for children from non-HIV households. The percentage of children studying in government schools has been found to be higher among HIV households (63) than non-HIV households (55) — an indication that medical expenses are cutting into education spending. The study, based on a survey spread over Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Manipur and Nagaland, covered 2,068 HIV households and 6,224 non-HIV households. A total of 2,386 people living with HIV and AIDS were interviewed. |
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"Ours is a battle not for wealth or for power.
It is a battle for freedom. It is a battle for the reclamation of human personality."
- Dr BR Ambedkar
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