HIV/AIDS program for student to be launched

JAKARTA (JP): The challenge of informing junior high school students about HIV/AIDS through a special program was evident when organizers addressed school principals yesterday.

A presentation held by the Pelita Ilmu Foundation, a non- governmental organization which focuses on HIV/AIDS, revealed that educators themselves needed repeated explanations.

The session, designed to win the support of principals in North Jakarta, was held yesterday together with the mayoralty and the Ministry of Education and Culture.

The program, which will start in 30 schools next year after a 16-hour training course for teachers, is the first of its kind in Indonesia.

School staff will then work out the best way to insert HIV/AIDS information into various subjects like biology or physical education.

Zubairi Djoerban, the Foundation chairman, said educating junior high students was important because HIV/AIDS was most common in the 20-29 year age group.

In Jakarta, out of 154 cases, 63 are between 20 to 29, meaning they may have been infected seven to 10 years ago, a volunteer said.

"In earlier sessions with senior high students we found they started various habits like drinking and smoking when they were in the junior levels," Zubairi said.

Comments from principals or their representatives included the belief the HIV/AIDS problem would be reduced if those afflicted were isolated, and if the prostitution complex in North Jakarta was shut down.

Another principal wondered whether giving information to sex workers was the main solution.

Pelita Ilmu volunteers patiently explained that the most important way to avoid being infected was for everybody to know how the virus spreads.

Apart from anxiety about making students curious about pre- marital sex, educators were enthusiastic about the program.

P. Riyanto, the deputy principal of one of almost 200 junior high schools in North Jakarta, agreed youngsters were important targets for HIV/AIDS information.

"When I was assigned to a school in East Jakarta I found several cases of pre-marital sex and pregnancies," he said.

M. Ali, the principal of another school, hoped organizers would pay the utmost attention to the activities, because the best teachers suitable for the program would be at their busiest during examination periods.

Another said information sessions for parents were vital because adultery was common.

Another educator hoped that HIV/AIDS education could eventually be included in the school curricula, which is currently under consideration at the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Others suggested that HIV/AIDS information could be inserted in a subject called "Education on Jakarta's Environment" which includes various information on how to live in Jakarta.

"Parents would object to an explicit session called sex education or HIV/AIDS," a school counselor said. (anr)