The Hindu : New Delhi News : `Education a casualty for children in HIV-affected households'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 23, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

`Education a casualty for children in HIV-affected households'

Special Correspondent

Education is valued but enrolment is low, reveals study

Higher dropout rates Girl child more likely to be withdrawn from school

NEW DELHI: Though education is acknowledged to be the first line of defence against the spread of HIV and AIDS, the epidemic has caused a large negative impact on the education of children from affected households. This is the finding of the latest study on "Socio-Economic Impact of HIV and AIDS in India''.

The study, undertaken by the National Council of Applied Economic Research and supported by the National AIDS Control Organisation and the United Nations Development Programme, has found that not only is enrolment of children from HIV households lower than those from non-HIV households but also the dropout rates are higher and attendance is lower.

The girl child is more likely to be withdrawn from school. "Since most of the HIV-infected persons are not only in their prime working age but are also often parents of young school-going children, the epidemic would have an adverse effect on many aspects of child well-being,'' says the study.

The impact on schooling has been gauged by comparing enrolment rates, the type of school attended and the attendance rate across HIV and non-HIV households.

Most children from HIV households dropped out to take care of the sick or younger siblings, assist in household chores or to take up a job. Reasons such as "non interested in studies" and "education considered unnecessary" were higher among non-HIV households. But education is valued in HIV households though they are forced by circumstances to withdraw their children from school.

For low attendance, reasons such as `parent unwell,' `fees not paid' and `had to look after younger siblings or attend to household chores' are higher among children from HIV households. Reasons such as `went out of station' and `had to attend social function' are higher for children from non-HIV households.

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