a sourcebook of hiv/aids prevention programs volume 2

Programa de Educación Afectivo Sexual (PEAS), the Dominican Republic 9Figure 1.2: Basic Aspects of the PEAS Programvalues and attitudesemotionaldevelopmentknowledge andinformationfamily,social, andschoolcontextSource: Authors.such as the value of self-care, respect for life and responsibility, and the valueof sexual abstinence. Students are also provided with information oncontraception, including the use of condoms as a means to prevent STIsand pregnancy. School counselors and psychologists, many of whomreceived university-level training in HIV/AIDS and sex education, supportteachers delivering the program.ImplementationTo raise awareness about the aims and strategies of the program and theneeds to which it responds, PEAS carried out a process of awareness-raisingamong officials at various levels in the administrative hierarchy. It supplementedthese activities by training officials at the central, regional, andprovincial levels.Through a series of meetings between SEE and COPRESIDA, thestructure and content of PEAS were finalized. The program was thenoffered to all secondary schools as part of the regular curriculum. Teachersand principals are responsible for implementing the PEAS educationcomponent and ensuring that it reaches students and their families. Theprincipal has ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the PEAS curriculumis implemented.The Ministry of Education is responsible for implementing PEAS.Funding decisions are made by COPRESIDA, however, which managesthe funds allocated by the World Bank for HIV/AIDS–related policies.This structure can be challenging, because the Ministry of Educationdoes not have easy access to funds and cannot always respond adequatelyto new needs.(c) The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank