Can we use young people's knowledge to develop teachers and HIV-related education?

Despite recent progress in meeting the goals of the education for all agenda,certain groups of young people are particularly vulnerable to exclusion and underachievement,including children with hiv/aids,children living in poverty,and children with disabilities. hiv/aids has reduced many young people's rights to access education,to live a full and healthy life,and to have a life as a child. this article focuses on attempts to continue to empower young people to protect themselves from hiv by exploring the dynamics around hiv-related education in schools,in particular by examining the role that young people's knowledge can play in improving curricula and thus reducing hiv/aids rates. the authors draw on qualitative research in a total of eight schools in kenya,tanzania,and south africa. preliminary findings suggest that pupil consultation and dialogue can be used to inform thinking on the curriculum for hiv education. © 2011 unesco ibe.