ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF HIV/AIDS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF

PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN IN MALANGA SUB LOCATION IN YALA SUBCOUNTY,

SIAYA COUNTY

A research proposal submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of

the diploma in ECDE, Halisi Teachers Training College.

by

Ochola Anne Anyango

Reg. Number:

Supervisor:
DECLARATION

This proposal is my original work and has not been presented for a diploma in any other college.

Signature……………………………………….. Date ……………………………………….

ANNE A. OCHOLA

Registration number:
SUPERVISOR’S DECLARATION:

This proposal has been submitted for review with my approval as the college supervisor.

Signature…………………………………………

Date……………………………………………..

Mrs……..

Department of ECDE
 ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study will be to investigate the effects of HIV/AIDs on the academic

performance of pre-school children in Malanga sub-location, Siaya county. Since the discpovery

of HIV/AIDs in the year 1981, exceeding 60 million people have lost their lives, about 34

million of our population is living with HIV/AIDs currently. Out of this population, 3 million are

children under 15 years of age. The targeted sample population is expected to comprise of 15

teachers, 18 parents and 18 pre-school children.

INTRODUCTION

Background to the study

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) originated in non- human primates in sub Saharan Africa

and was transferred to humans later in 19th or early 20th century. There are two types of HIV

known to infect humans: HIV 1 and HIV 2. HIV 1 is known to be more virulent. In addition, it is

easily transmitted and is the major cause of HIV infections throughout the world. On the other

hand, HIV 2 is less transmittable and is largely confined within the West Africa region. Several

theories about the origin of HIV have been put forward. Most of them accept the already

established knowledge of HIV phylogenetic relationships (crim, 2009).

The epidemic emergence of HIV most likely reflects the changes in population structure and

behavior in Africa during the 20th century and perhaps medical interventions that provided the

opportunity for rapid human to human spread of the virus. The HIV/AIDs have been shown to

not only affect adults but also children. Its effects on children have been shown to be grave.

Researchers have shown that HIV/AIDs may be associated with decline in academic

performance of the affected pre-school children making them fail to realize their academic

potentials and dreams. Essentially, introductory courses in handling the affected pre-school

children are necessary for the society. Teachers such training will be able to handle these

children effectively as well as motivate them to achieve high goals in academics. These children

will not only be motivated to work hard academically but also see a sense of belonging from

everyone who surrounds them therefore boosting their social lives too (Achoka, 2005)..

Since the discovery of HIV/AIDs in 1981, more than 60 million people have lost their lives.

According to joint united nations program on HIV/AIDs (UNAIDs, 2004), approximately thirty
four million people currently live with the virus. Out of this, three million are approximated to be

children less than fifteen years of age. Orphaned children by AIDs are usually forced to leave

school, engage in child labor activities or even prostitution; these children suffer from depression

and anger, or engage in high risk behaviors that make them susceptible to contracting HIV.

Children who live in homes that take in orphans may see a decline in the quantity and quality of

food, education, loves, nurturing and may be stigmatized. The demand for education services

have been shown to decline because of decreased family resources that are available for

schooling in AIDs affected households. HIV/AIDs have also been shown to be affecting the

trend of school age population since it causes an increase in the number of orphans in the country

who may not afford education (Ayieko, 2008).

Over the past decade, HIV/AIDs have become the most damaging pandemic in Kenya. This has

made the government of Kenya to declare it a national disaster. According to world vision

(2000), the effects of HIV/AIDs have been felt in several countries and its impact has been

devastating on the development of the economy, education and agricultural sector. In education

sector, learning has been negatively felt when both teachers and children die. As a result, when

teachers die this affects children because they stay for some days without being taught. In other

cases, children do not concentrate in class due to their parent’s sickness or being stigmatized in

school because of being sick (crim, 2009).

PROBLEM STATEMENT
The researcher interacted with the pre-school children, teachers and parents during her visit and

perceived a lack of knowledge on the effect of HIV/AIDs of the affected children towards their

academic performance. The researcher made an assumption that there may be a relationship

between evaluation, knowledge and effects of HIV/AIDs towards the performance of the

children affected by the disease.

JUSTIFICATION/ SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study will be carried out with the belief that it will play a key role in improving the life as

well as the academic performance of the pre-school children. Moreover it will help to maintain,

improve and motivate the pre-school children who are affected by HIV/AIDs towards putting

more efforts in academics. Student term report form from the school as well as direct interviews

with the parents and the pre-school teachers will form part of assessment that will aim at

improving the quality of life and academic of the affected children. In addition to these, it will

provide an opportunity to communicate and correct negative and less than optimal behaviors

directed at the affected children as well as provoke the stakeholders in joining hands to help the

affected children towards unearthing their potentials and realizing their academic dreams. From

the feedback, the county government and the stakeholders will get a basis for channeling their

resources towards helping the affected pre-school children as well as motivating them in life.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
BROAD OBJECTIVE

To determine the attitude of parents, knowledge of teachers and the effects of HIV/AIDS on

academic performance of pre-school children

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE

The study will aim at achieving the following objectives:

 Examine the performance of children living with HIV/AIDs in ECDE classrooms

 Determine factors contributing to poor performance among children living with

HIV/AIDs in ECDE classroom

 Establish how children living with HIV/AIDs are identified in ECDE classrooms

 Investigate the intervention measures needed to improve academic performance of

children living with HIV/AIDs in ECDE classrooms

 Determine the impact of HIV/AIDs on communities participation in education

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The research is going to use descriptive research design which will use mixed methods approach

of both qualitative and quantitative technique. Data will be collected from 18 parents, 18 pre-

school children and 15 teachers by the use of questionnaires, interviews and observation

checklist. The data collected will then be analyzed using statistical package of social sciences

(SPSS). Descriptive statistics such as percentages and frequencies will be used to answer the

research questions then data shall be presented using charts, tables and graphs.
LITERATURE REVIEW
HIV GLOBALLY

HIV is a global pandemic. In the year 2010, approximately 34 million of people had HIV

globally. Out of the total number, approximately 16.8 million are women and 3.4 million

constitute of the school going children having less than 15 years of age. The same year, about 1.8

million of the total population of people who had the virus died. This figure was reported to have

gone down compared to 3.1 million of people who died from the same virus in the year 2001.

HIV IN AFRICA

The region most affected with HIV is the sub-Saharan Africa. In the year 2010, approximated

68% of all cases an equivalent of 22.9 million and 66% of all deaths which is an equivalent of

1.2 million occurred in this region. This means that about 5% of the adult population living in

sub Saharan region is infected. Contrast to other regions, women in sub-Sahara composes of

approximately 60% of the cases. South Africa has the largest population of people with HIV of

any country in the world. The figures stand at 5.9 million.

IN KENYA

According to Kenya national AIDs control programme (world vision, 2000), high death and

mortality rates teachers, administrators and children have severely affected the supply of

educational services in schools. Teaching time and education quality are more thematic in the

most affected in Kenya as both teachers and pupils are irregular due to HIV related reasons.

HIV/AIDs pandemic in the country has highlighted the enormous disparities in the quality of

education both within counties and between counties in respect to teaching, learning and

programme content, which together largely shape the overall learning environment (Achoka,
2005). In addition, victimization and stigmatization of both the infected and the affected are

rampant in both teachers and children. Therefore, the increased morbidity of children,

absenteeism of teachers and classmates, coupled with poor performance are a combination of

factors that have caused havoc in education in ECDE centers, which has influenced researchers

to carry out the study in order to establish the effect of HIV/AIDs on pre-school performance in

early childhood development.

 References

Achoka, B. (2005). Research and practice. New York: Population council.

Ayieko, K. (2008). Gender equ.ity for implementing EFA: Recounting gender issues in the

provision of Education for all in kenya. In Basic Education Forum, vol. 6.

Crim, J. et al. (2009). Social assessment of Roma and HIV/AIDs in central Eat Europe,

Bucharest: United Nations Development Programme.

UNAIDS, (2004). Report on the Global HIV/AIDs epidemic: 4 th Global report. Geneva, joint

United Nations programme on HIV/AIDs.

World Vision, (2000). The impact of HIV/AIDs on education. Ministry of Home affairs,

National Heritage Culture and social services. First Kenya County report on the

Implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child. Nairobi