MAINSTREAMING HIV/ AIDS INTO THE CURRICULA AND MAJOR INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES OF HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTIONS IN ETHIOPIA: THE CASE OF GONDAR UNIVERSITY

Abstract

Despite a great deal of efforts, curative medicine or efficacious vaccine for HIV/AIDS epidemic remains elusive. In such dire circumstances, prevention through educating people about the pandemic is one of the first-rate strategies to limit the spread and the untold impact of the epidemic. For HIV/AIDS prevention activities to be effective, it is compulsory to mainstream HIV/AIDS education in programmes and institutional plans. In light of this, the main objective of this paper is to assess the mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS into the curricula and major institutional activities of the University of Gondar. To meet this objective, data were collected from 1,200 students and 85 teachers (by using questionnaire) who were selected by employing stratified random sampling technique and from 5 University officials (by using semistructured interview) who were selected by using purposive sampling technique. Besides, document analysis is also used. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyze the data. Results of the study revealed that mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS both in the curricula and institutional activities of the university found to be less satisfactory. Hence, the researchers recommended that the university has to re think to mainstream HIV/AIDS in to the curricula of the different departments and in its major institutional activities; teaching and learning, research and community service and partnership formation.