Sensitise schools on HIV-infected kids, say experts

As many parents are apprehensive about revealing that their kids are HIV infected, the education department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will have to come up with certain guidelines and programmes for sensitization for the schools which will be admitting HIV infected kids under the 25 per cent quota of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, opined experts.

The state government had come up with a revised rule, on Wednesday, which included HIV infected kids in the 25 per cent quota for RTE admissions. Now, the HIV affected kids are entitled to free education, provided they submit their medical certificate.

However, many parents fear that their child may be discriminated against if they reveal that they are HIV infected.

Dr. V. Sam Prasad, the Country Program Director of AIDS Healthcare Foundation India, said, "The lack of sensitivity may arouse discrimination for sure. Even before guidelines are implemented, efforts need to be made by the education department for sensitizing the school staff, other children and parents."

Rohan Bhat, the chairperson of Children's Academy in Malad, said, "It is very important that all schools have some guidelines from the education department on how to treat children with HIV. It is a welcome move by the government of helping these children by providing free education, but we worry how other parents will react to it now."

Mahesh Palkar, BMC's education officer, said, "We are expecting some guidelines from the government for schools on how to handle kids having HIV."

REVISED RTE QUOTA

The state government had come up with a revised rule, on Wednesday, which included HIV infected kids in the 25 per cent quota for free education under the RTE Act