Vulnerability of secondary school students to HIV/AIDS: Implication for social studies instruction

Abstract

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS among the youths who constitute about twenty-five percent of the world population draws attention to the challenge of addressing the needs of secondary school students where a very large cluster of the youths can be found. This paper thus examines problems of youths who appear very vulnerable to HIV/AIDS as a result of the socioemotional pressures attached to adolescence, a developmental stage characterized by identity crises. The paper submits that the Social Studies teacher would play a very significant role in resolving the identity crises of secondary school students under their tutelage, if they carefully plan their classroom instructions to clarify the values held by their students; and as a result, the students will avoid HIV/AIDS risk-related practises, lead lives devoid of diseases and avoid injuries and by that, live longer and achieve their life goals.