Directive No. 61/2008/CT-BGDĐT on Strengthening Work to Prevent and Control HIV/AIDS in the Education Sector

DIRECTIVE

Issuing Directive on Strengthening Work to Prevent and Control HIV/AIDS

 in the Education Sector

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Implementing the Law on Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS and the National Strategy for Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS until 2010 and Vision 2020 (annexed to Decision No. 36/2004/QĐ-TTg dated March 17, 2004 of the Government Prime Minister), the education sector has carried out many activities to promote awareness and education on prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and has achieved certain results. However, there are still many limitations and inadequacies such as: The awareness of students, teachers, staff in the education sector regarding prevention and control of HIV/AIDS is not high; The attention of educational management officials and investment in prevention and control of HIV/AIDS have not met requirements; Stigma and discrimination against people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS are still widespread.

To strengthen educational work on prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and combat stigma and discrimination against people living with and affected by HIV, the Minister of Education and Training requests all departments of education and training, universities, academies, colleges, vocational schools, and other regular education institutions to implement the following contents effectively:

1. Consolidate the organizational system for directing prevention and control of HIV/AIDS at all levels of educational management and educational institutions.

2. Increase propaganda and dissemination of the Party's guidelines, State policies, and laws, and the education sector's policies on prevention and control of HIV/AIDS to students, teachers, and staff. Emphasize the dissemination of Directive No. 54/CT-TW dated November 30, 2005 of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on strengthening leadership in HIV/AIDS prevention and control work in the new situation; the Law on Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS; the National Strategy for Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS until 2010 and Vision 2020 annexed to Decision No. 36/2004/QĐ-TTg dated March 17, 2004 of the Government Prime Minister.

3. Enhance communication and education to raise awareness and change behavior of students, teachers, and staff regarding prevention and control of HIV/AIDS, specifically:

a) Improve the quality of teaching in regular classes on prevention and control of HIV/AIDS according to the curriculum and teaching plan; Emphasize the integration of content on prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and combating stigma and discrimination against people living with and affected by HIV in related subjects;

b) Organize extracurricular activities and out-of-classroom education on prevention and control of HIV/AIDS; Emphasize the training of skills to prevent and control HIV/AIDS for students;

c) Organize the Month of Action for Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS and World AIDS Day (December 1) annually;

d) Establish friendly corners for communication and counseling on reproductive health and prevention and control of HIV/AIDS.

4. Integrate content on prevention and control of HIV/AIDS into activities of the movement to build friendly schools and proactive students and other related activities such as: sex education, reproductive health, life skills, prevention and control of drug abuse and prostitution, and cultural, sports, entertainment, and recreational activities.

5. Implement comprehensive preventive measures to prevent HIV infection in educational institutions. Raise the sense of responsibility and professional competence of school health workers in prevention and control of HIV/AIDS.

6. Strictly implement regulations on combating stigma and discrimination against people living with and affected by HIV as specified in the Law on Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS:

a) Educational institutions commit to not stigmatize and discriminate against students, teachers, and staff infected with or affected by HIV;

b) Ensure the right to study, work, and live integrated into the community for people living with or affected by HIV;

c) Promote education on compassion and sharing towards people living with and affected by HIV; Do not disseminate negative information or images about people living with HIV/AIDS;

d) Mobilize people living with HIV to participate in HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities of educational institutions;

đ) Educational institutions shall not require HIV testing or presentation of HIV test results from students, applicants for admission, teachers, staff, and job candidates; Shall not refuse to accept, discipline, isolate, limit, or prohibit students, teachers, and staff from participating in activities and services of the institution solely because they are HIV positive.

7. Enhance the capacity of cadres and teachers working on prevention and control of HIV/AIDS at all levels of educational management and educational institutions.

8. Increase budget investment for HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities.

9. Coordinate with local agencies, sectors, mass organizations to implement HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities and combat stigma and discrimination against people living with and affected by HIV.

10. Inspect, monitor, evaluate, and report on HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities in the education sector as prescribed.

11. Timely commend and reward collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements in cooperation for HIV/AIDS prevention and control and handle collectives and individuals violating the Law on Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS and provisions in this Directive.

12. Assign the Department of Student Affairs to be the focal point assisting the Minister in directing the implementation of HIV/AIDS prevention and control work, specifically:

a) Develop a coordination mechanism among departments and a prevention and control of HIV/AIDS plan throughout the sector;

b) Take the lead and coordinate with relevant units to direct extracurricular activities and out-of-classroom activities on prevention and control of HIV/AIDS for students;

c) Take the lead and coordinate with relevant units to organize inspections, evaluations, and reports to the Minister on the implementation of HIV/AIDS prevention and control work throughout the sector.

Relevant units under the Ministry of Education and Training are responsible for participating in coordinating the implementation of HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities.

Upon receipt of this Directive, directors of departments of education and training, directors of universities and academies, principals of universities, colleges, and vocational schools, and heads of units related to the Ministry of Education and Training are responsible for organizing its implementation.

This Directive takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.