Zewdie, Teka (PhD)Wolde Michael, Feseha2018-08-082023-11-052018-08-082023-11-052003-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/11219HIV/AIDS is a human catastrophic virus/disease, which has killed thousands and thousands of people including immature growing up kids. "Today more than 13 million children under the age of 15 have lost one or both parents to AIDS (UNAIDS, 2002:3). Undoubtedly, the number of AIDS orphans is increasing at an alarming rate and parental death to AIDS has resulted in their dropping school, labour exploitation, stigma and discrimination. This study has been conducted with the objective to investigate the educational problems of AIDS orphaned children and to seek possible educational approaches to them. 'AIDS orphans are likely to be less well nourished, may be over worked by their guardians and lack proper supervision, care and school or vocational training.... schooling for orphans is unexplored and new issue which needs to be addressed (Gachuhi, 1999:8). Of the various sectors, education is the one heavily affected by HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS affects the demand for education, the supply and quality of education, the available resources for education, etc. Therefore, attempts have been made to evaluate the kind of care and support AIDS orphans have received within the extended family circle, and to see their academic achievements, school enrollment rate, needs, values and motivations, the deficits they have had and the solution that have been undertaken. Using convenient and purposive sampling method, a total of 406 individuals were selected for the study. Based on this sample two types of questionnaires have been developed to be completed by AIDS orphans & caretakers. The views of concerned Ministries and Associations of HIV carriers like Dawn of Hope and Mekedim Ethiopia have been gathered by way of an interview. Observations have been made on AIDS orphans who have themselves viibeen HIV carriers. Two focus group discussions were conducted with AIDS orphaned children. The quantitative data have been analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, variance & standard deviation. In addition, ANOVA, t-test, Chi-square test, Spearman rho correlation and percentage have been employed. The qualitative data gathered have been transcribed by the use of words and sentences. The findings of the study have revealed that more than half of the AIDS orphans are being reared in the extended family circle. They are receiving support like wheat, food oil and money from Associations of HIV carriers and local NGO's, but the support they get is not sufficient and lacks uniformity among the different supporting agencies. AIDS orphans also lack psychological support from the caretakers. The majority of the AIDS orphans who have been included in the study have succeeded in attending schools. Most of them are in regular schools of both government and privately owned ones, but very few are in night school programs. Concerning class attendance a significant difference has been observed between boys and girls. More boys attend classes than girls. AIDS orphans are found to be stigmatized and discriminated by their age mates. Despite the prevailing stigma and discrimination, these AIDS orphans have been found to have high self-esteem and above average self-efficacy. However, they are not in a position to receive sufficient amount of educational materials, food and medicine. In line with these findings of the study, recommendations are forwarded to change the existing Education and Training Policy for possible in a way that include the issues of AIDS orphans and the proper implementation of ESDP statement. It also suggests a systematic & timely data collection of the affected and infected children and teachers from as low as school level to as high up to the Ministry of Education. The paper also proposes a way of sensitizing and capacitating the extended family in order to realize the Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) program; establishing community schools; the use of distance education for AIDS orphans; and organizing AIDS orphans to speak out their mind about their rightsenEducational challengesAIDS OrphansMaternal OrphanPaternal OrphanDouble OrphanThesis