The Evaluation of Basic Education Provision Policy for HIV/AIDS-Affected Children in Thailand

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the basic education provision policy for HIV/AIDS-affected children in Thailand and to propose recommendations for enhancing this policy for the basic education provision. Multi-methods evaluation was used, namely documentary analysis, a questionnaire survey of 185 Educational Service Area Offices [ESAOs] and 50 schools under the royal patronage of HM the King of Thailand, and in-depth interviews of 50 educational participants. The results revealed that 61.54% of ESAOs have HIV/AIDS-affected children studying in the basic educational schools. Most of them were in the north and the northeast region of Thailand. The report of AIDS patients in public health system of Thailand showed that there were 37,910 HIV/AIDS children who studied in basic educational schools providing basic core curriculum education. Only 364 of them studied in public special education schools promoting life and occupational skills. The action of ESAOs on education provision policy were a) to create and revise databases of disadvantaged children, b) to allocate fund for HIV/AIDS-affected children, and c) to launch public relation campaigns among families and communities.  Based on the results, three recommendations for the policy of ESAOs’ were proposed a) enabling HIV/AIDS-affected children to access educational services; b) assisting them with respect of rights and dignity; and c) providing systematic assistance by integrating multi-professional networks consistent with different levels and children’s needs.