School Health and Reading Program

The School Health and Reading Program (SHRP) built on previous USAID and Government of Uganda investments in health and HIV education to enhance existing curricula and to test and evaluate additional interventions that have an impact on improved knowledge and behavior change. These efforts were augmented by a range of coordination and capacity building activities through existing structures with schools and districts and at national level to ensure sustainability with resources from the Ugandan Ministry of Education and Sports.

World Education has supported Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) to set up sustainable mechanisms for a meaningful HIV and AIDS response within the education system. This includes support in the implementation of effective HIV prevention education in both primary and post-primary schools and institutions.

The program provided technical support to MoES to enhance the Presidential Initiative on AIDS Strategy for Communication to Youth (PIASCY) curriculum and established a minimum package of HIV education interventions in schools through the School Family Initiative (SFI). The program further supported the MoES in more active engagement of districts in HIV education initiatives, and trained teachers to not only teach about HIV prevention, but also become champions of this cause.

Through these activities, World Education reached 1,651 schools in 17 high HIV-prevalence districts with its HIV&AIDS and health education package. More than 11,000 teachers were trained to deliver HIV education and basic HIV&AIDS counseling skills. They in turn reached 481,172 students (235,340 male, 245,832 female children) in P4 to P7 in primary schools, Senior 1 to 6 in secondary schools, and BTVET students in years 1 to 4. World Education used the School Family Initiative (SFI) as an optimal vehicle to reach large numbers of young people in primary schools with quality interventions through small group activities. The minimum package in each school also integrated HIV&AIDS education into subjects and co-curricular activities like sports, music, dance and drama; linked schools to HIV&AIDS services; created an active HIV&AIDS talking environment; and integrated HIV&AIDS issues into guidance and counseling practices to benefit children.